Healthy Thoughts

These are a few of my favorite things!

2009-03-26T14:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry for my absence..Ive been busy lately and went on vacation but now that I'm back I wanted to share some of my favorite snacks. I LOVE snacks and I feel like in order to do well with weight loss or maintenance you've got to find yummy snacks that satisfy. Here are a few of mine

Popcorn

But not any popcorn. This popcorn is popped fresh on the stove in olive oil. It is the best popcorn you will ever have..... I guarantee it! It beats the microwave stuff!

Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a tall sauce pan. Add 1/4 cup unpopped popcorn kernels. Cover.....Shake it up now and again even when it starts to pop so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan and whalla! Add some sea salt or table salt and enjoy! Its 210 calories for the whole pan and its a great way to get your oil in for the day!

Blue Bunny

I am so addicted to these puppies! I buy two boxes a week and usually run out. They are only 50-60 calories a piece and there sweetened with sweetener so you don't get extra sugar. I think they might even be 0 points. They have a good flavor, are creamy and satisfying. Husband approved.

Tangelos

I just discovered these little mini oranges at the store last week. I know...where have I been. I usually never buy oranges because it is so hard to find juicy ones. Well..Rowan saw these and begged for them ....so I bought them. I cant turn the kid down for choosing a healthy snack. I was quite surprised when I ate one....they were so juicy and good. I just bought some yesterday and cant wait to enjoy it.

60 calorie Jello Pudding Cups

I love the new flavors of these bad boys. I tried a new one today and it was good. It was the rice pudding...creme brulee flavor. That one was 70 calories and quite good. If you have a texture thing...you may not like them...I don't...so I liked it. I also like the chocolate banana and chocolate mint. Add some fat free cool whip and enjoy!

Powerade Zero

This is one for my running buddies. I am not a sports drink fan at all. I don't like the added sugar they contain, so I usually stick with my Diet Coke. However I just recently read a review on this so I thought I would give it a shot. The flavors are a lot like kool aid flavors and I like them. It contains much needed electrolytes so its really good to drink during or after your long runs. They are our "new thing" around here and only cost 78 cents at Walmart.

Kashi Go Lean Crunch

I love this cereal! Sometimes I warm up some frozen fruit like peaches in the microwave and then add it to the cereal with some milk and it taste like peach cobbler. Yummo! Its 200 cal per cup but worth it. I really like the Honey Almond Flax. Its got 4.5 grams of fat....8 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein!

Cuban Black Beans and Rice....yum!

2009-03-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

I just made this recipe that I got off of Weight Watchers.com and it is so yummy that I have to share. The only thing I did differently was.... I used Bush's Seasoned Black Beans and I added squash, zuchinni, orange pepper and mushrooms. I always try to add lots of veges to my meals to bulk them up. I love adding squash and zuchinni.... they have a great taste and they feel me up:)This recipe alone would not feel me up. Oh...I also used brown rice...say no to white!

2 1/2 cup(s) water, divided
1 cup(s) uncooked white rice, long grain-variety
2 tsp olive oil
1 3/4 cup(s) red onion(s), chopped, divided
1 medium banana pepper, cubanelle or other sweet pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
31 oz canned black beans, two 15.5 oz cans (undrained)
1 tsp table salt, or to taste
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2/3 cup(s) cilantro, fresh, chopped, divided
1 medium lime(s), cut into 6 wedges

Instructions
In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil; add rice and cook as package directs.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 cups of onion and all of the pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 7 minutes. Add garlic, cumin and oregano; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Stir in beans and their liquid, remaining 1/2 cup of water and salt; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer for flavors to blend, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vinegar and 1/3 cup of cilantro.

To serve, spoon beans over rice; sprinkle with 1/4 cup of remaining onion and 1/3 cup of remaining cilantro; squeeze fresh lime juice over top. Yields about 3/4 cup of beans and 1/2 cup of rice per serving.

5 points-6 servings

Cadbury Mini Egg control...is there such a thing?

2009-03-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

I have to post about my experience this week with these little chocolates of love. I bought a bag last week to put in my kids Easter baskets. I didnt open them right away, because I didnt want to eat them all, so I put them in the pantry to open closer to Easter. These chocolates of love, are some of my FAVORITE treats and I love spring because of them. Later in the week....I ended up opening the bag so that I could do some potty training bribing with my three year old. He is definitly his mothers son, because he went coo coo for them too. Everyday since then, he has been begging for "bird eggs" as he calls them. I, on the other hand..... have been very, very, good. I have really suprised myself. I have had some of them, but if I decide to have a few ......I track them into my calories for the day. The old Maren would have had a few to start and then completely lost control and ate them until I felt sick. Now..... Im not telling this story or any other story to boast, I only tell it to give myself and others hope. I think a lot of times we lose control and then we feel awful about ourselves and we dwell on those horrible experiences. Rather than doing that, I am trying to recognize when I am making a good choice or have changed a bad habit for a good one and give myself a little pat on the back. I have learned that as I make these positive choices, I become stronger and I realize that THIS feeling is way better than the "oh crap, I totally just porked out, I feel fat, I cant do this..... so Im just giving up feeling." I am learning that I DO have control and that is feels GREAT!. Eating that whole bag is not worth it anymore. It is not worth the horrible feeling that follows. I love the feeling that I get when I eat just six and can stop. Now THAT feeling is great! I am pleased to announce that the candy is still in the cupboard and Im not thinking about it all day and its no big deal and that makes me extremely happy. In this last year, I have made a lot of progress and food has started to feel "normal" again. So to answer my own question...yes....there is such a thing as Cadbury Mini Egg control....and theres control to be found with everything else that is our weakness!

Goodbye...sweet..sweet...Splenda!

2009-03-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

Today I say an official goodbye to one of my favorite things....Splenda. I have realized that I am going overboard and using it WAY too much. Its like crack....I just cant stop.(not that Ive ever used crack)

I have realized that I buy a huge bag every week and I use it all up. I use it in my breakfast cereal, in my tea that I drink all day long and on everything that needs a little boost of sweetness. I have been wondering if maybe my over consumption of this wonderful stuff has been affecting my weight loss efforts. Its says "NO CALORIES" but when I googled it online.... the calories do add up if you use a lot of it. I was shocked when I read that 1 cup has 96 calories! What the CRAP! If I was only using it sparingly it wouldnt be a problem but Im not.... so ...theres a problem! Im going to cut it out of my diet completely this week and see what happens. OOHHH the withdrawls.....I can feel them already.

So......Good bye...sweet...sweet...Splenda...our days are over and Im movin on with out you....you decieved me and I wont ever forgive you and dont think about weasiling your way back into my life because I wont take you back. Your a cheat!
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Its true.....eat more lose more, especially while running!!!

2009-03-05T06:51:00.000-08:00

This was my first week using the Bodybugg...and the results are in! I lost 1.6 pounds....Hurray!!!! I haven't lost any weight in two months and was actually gaining even though I was doing WW, running and being really strict with my eating. I have been soooooo frustrated! I got to my goal weight of 125 before Christmas and then started training for my marathon. I was trying to just maintain my weight and ended up slowly gaining every week. I tried everything and nothing worked, so I decided to splurge on a BodyBugg after my neighbor ranted and raved about it. After using it for a week...I realized how many calories I was actually burning a day and was quite surprised. I am burning way more than I thought. Yesterday I burned 3,000 calories. On average I burn 2700 a day. That's alot..... obviously I wasn't eating enough. WW just wasn't working for me anymore. I wish that they had a specific plan for marathon runners but they don't. I was even eating my AP and Flex points and the scale kept going up. So then I would try not eating them and the scale would go up again! I was going crazy..... literally!

After using the Bodybugg this week, I was also surprised to see that most machines at the gym say that I burned way more calories than I actually did. It is so nice to actually see how many calories I am burning and how many I am actually eating through logging my food on the computer. It is the best little investment I have made for myself. I felt like I was eating a lot this week but felt very satisfied and not hungry all the time. I definitely ate more carbs than normal which I loved and have felt my running getting better. I had awesome runs this week...I ran 8 miles in 72 minutes! Everything is just great and I am so happy to feel some peace in this area of my life. Nothing sucks worse that trying so hard and seeing no results. What I learned goes right along with the book I'm reading by Nancy Clark. Nutrition Guide for Marathoners. She said that the biggest complaint she gets from runners, is that they plateau or gain weight while training. She said that most of the women are not eating enough calories and especially not enough carbs. Why are we so afraid of them? She also said that many women(I can relate) have a hard time adding calories because they are afraid of gaining weight. Once they do though...they finally see results. I have learned that her statement is true. Sometimes you have to eat more to lose more, especially if you are really active. I tried finding mt BMR online and most said that I burn 1300-1700 a day. Even if I was inactive that is still way off. On Sunday I didn't do much at all and I still burned almost 1900.

I was also glad to hear that this process worked for Stephanie! She ate a four extra points everyday and was able to break through and see a weight loss. It is true ladies....if your struggling seeing the scale move and your really tyrying, TRY ADDING MORE CALORIES. It works!

It was bound to happen.........

2009-03-02T14:51:00.000-08:00

So..... everyone in the running world always has in the back of their mind, the possibility of having tummy issues while running. Atleast I have.....and because of that....I have had somewhat of a plan so I can hit the problem head on when nessesary. That is usually the reason I run 3 mile laps around my neighborhood. I also know where every porta potty is located as well. Just in case. During a run, I have occasionally had to run home when Ive felt a little rumbly in the tumbly and then continue on like no big deal. I have heard many a stories of people having to run into a ditch or behind a wall to take a dump and have often wondered when I might have a similiar issue. Dont get me wrong....I wasnt hoping for it.... but I knew it was bound to happen.

On Saturday, I made some delicious Whole Wheat Pancakes that were da bomb and served them with Log Cabin Sugar Free Syrup, which we love. I have never had a problem with that concoction before, but have also never eaten them before a 17 mile run either. (Ive been testing foods to see what gives me the best energy before my long runs) Well....Saturday, Loren and I headed out to Grantsville to do our long run with his sister Jen. I was a little nervous running with someone new, because Im a gassy person and I knew I couldnt just let them fly like usual. I knew I would have to hide the "super boost". Sometimes they are so bad.... I think they give me some momentum. Anyway..... as I started running I felt the worst cramping ever! I felt like I was just being lugged down. My belly starting bloating and with every stride I hurt worse. I could feel the bubbles growing and I knew, it wasnt good. I tried to continue on and hide my issue but wondered how long I could keep on acting as though I was fine. Low and behold, before I knew it, my husband starting groaning that his tummy hurt and that he had to take a dookie. I was suddenly relieved and quickly admitted my problem with no hesitation. We did what we could do to continue on but a few minutes later he and I could no longer handle the pain. At that moment.....I found myself running into a cow patty infested field to releive the pain. I had no choice. I HAD to do it.

Before we left the house...I asked Loren to please grab some T.P in case I needed to pee and guess what.....when I asked him for some he said he forgot. What? ....I will never rely on him again! What in the crap was I going to do? As I was pondering my options I realized that I was wearing gloves. Cute pink striped gloves. Yes.......gloves...and boy was I happy that I decided to wear them that day! It was either that or a few gum wrappers I had in my pocket. I knew those wouldnt work so well so gloves it was. Loren actually bought the gloves for me for Christmas. Oh well.....thats what he gets.....Take that Loren! Who knew one day they would end up in a field under these circumstances. I didnt! Anyways.....I only used one....I had to save the other just in case my tummy needed to explode again. And good thing because I ended up not only once but twice in the cow patty infested field of dreams. Sure glad I saved one! Poor Loren..... he had nothing...not a glove or a gum wrapper and is now paying the price. After mile 12, we ended up taking a break at his sisters to recooperate from our tummy issues and then continued on.

We just have to laugh about this experience and were glad we got to share it with his sister on our first ever run together. We bonded!

So runners.....have a plan and dont rely on anyone but yourself to bring the T.P!

P.S. I know what I WONT be eating marathon day!

Oh yeah...to make the run even better...we almost got attacked by a cow. I think he knew what I did in his field and wasnt happy about it!

Bodybugg Day 1!

2009-02-27T09:58:00.000-08:00

I am completely in love with my Bodybugg and its only been a day. Its been love at first sight! Sorry Loren.....but the truth is, I am infatuated with this little guy. Yesterday was my official first day using it and I was very happy with the results. Actually...let me back up. The first result made me mad but I soon forgave it. I did the elliptical for 60 minutes at the gym and it said that I only burned 315 when the machine said 630. I was P.O.ed. I was thinking to myself.... no wonder I cant lose the last few pounds. My body doesn't burn a dang thing! I didn't use the arm things because my shoulder was hurting, but I still tried to maintain the same pace as usual. I DO have a really low heart rate, so I was coming to the realization that yep...... my metabolism sucks. Just what I figured.....and then by the end of the day....it said I burned close to 2700 calories! What the hay! Me? 2700 calories. I DID try really hard to not sit on my hiney too much AND went on a walk with the rugrats. This little guy made me realize that I can burn a lot of extra calories besides in my workouts and it really does matter how I spend my day. I cant think, that since I hit the gym, that I can relax all day in front of the computer. OOOHH how I love that! (I'm totally addicted to facebook) Anyways......This thing rocks....and I'm so happy with the results so far. I will keep you all updated. I still have a lot to learn. I get so frustrated trying to learn how these little gadgets work. Another bonus......They did call me today to see if I needed any help, which I thought was nice...and I get a free coaching session in a few weeks. What great customer service!

P.S. My morning run today was good! I ran 5 miles and it said I burned 500 calories. The treadmill said 550...not to far off. I burned 10 calories and up a minute! I ran it in 45 minutes!

Ive got the........ BUGG!

2009-02-26T08:13:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about this ......I can hardly stand it! I didn't even care that the UPS man woke up my baby when he delivered this yesterday....that's how happy I was to get it! For those of you who don't know what the BODYBUGG is.....Im sure you've seen them wearing this on the Biggest Loser. It is a little device that you wear on your upper arm that tracks all the calories you burn in a day. At any time of day....you download it to the computer at it shows you what you have burned for the day. I also have the digital watch that goes with it so I can see the info without the download. Im glad I bought it! You can also track all your daily food in take on there website too. It helps you lose, maintain or gain weight. You set your goals.....it tells you how many calories to eat and how much you need to burn for the day! My neighbor came over last Friday wearing one and said she had lost ten pounds and loved it. That was it....I was sold. My main motivation is to lose a few more pounds...and then learn to maintain. (something Ive never done before:) I will keep you posted as I go

P.S. I was already surprised after my morning workout. I did 1 hour on the elliptical. The machine read 630 calories burned....the bodybugg.....315..Hmmmmm....Those dang machines aren't always right:)

P.S.S What was up with the Biggest Loser lastnight? Im not sure if that was a good game play or not. Crazy!

My tale of four cities....

2009-02-21T19:41:00.001-08:00

So today was my long run and Im up to 17 miles! My sweet mom watched the kids so my husband and I could run it together. We mapped out our run into an area we have never run before and DANG...we really under estimated it! It was very hilly and can I add.... HELLY! We actually ran through four cities! I laughed every time I saw a new city sign. It felt like we ran through four cities too. I am proud to say though, that I finished with only a few pee breaks. I did however, feel like I wanted to cry at the end. My legs felt like lead and they hurt A-LOT. Thats a pain Ive never quite felt before and I cant wait to feel that again next week. Look'in forward to it :) Good attitude...good attitude:)

Its crazy to think that in the marathon, I will have to run 9 more miles than I did today. WHOA NELLY! I dont think I really realize what the crap Im doing. Nope...I have no idea...but Im in it...and Im doing it anyway. I just dont want to be one of those people who collapse at the finish line and have to get carried away in a stretcher. Please let me not be one of those people. Thats my goal really. To finish around 4:30 and to be able to finish strong and not collapse:)

Anyway...it was a beautiful sunny day here in Utah and we finished off the beautiful day at Sweet Tomatoes with our little family. I love that place.....its becoming our Saturday tradition. Im diggin the one point apple bran muffin with the non fat chocolate frozen yogurt on top...YUM! That was a perfect ending to a good day.

Tostada Pie

2009-02-19T07:18:00.000-08:00

If you cant already tell....I ...heart... Mexican food! I love the flavors and it always seems to satisfy. This is one of my favorite recipes of all times! I made this last night and it is soooo good. Even Loren wanted to bring the leftovers to work today. It really is an easy recipe to follow and I almost always have what I need to make it.

2-4 Lean Turkey Burgers Jennie O (1/2 - 1 pound) You can also use extra lean ground beef.

1/2 -1 packet Taco Bell Seasoning

1/2 cup salsa

1 can non fat re fried beans

4 tortillas (Whole Grain)I use Dunford Tortillas or Mission Healthy Heart

Start by spraying a non stick skillet with Pam. Cook tortillas one at a time until golden and crispy. Set aside.

Brown the meat. )If its in turkey burger form, just chop it up into small peices like ground beef. 1/2 - 1 pound) Add seasoning packet, salsa and beans. Mix together.

Spray a nonstick, round, glass pan with Pam and put a tortilla in the bottom of pan. Layer 1/4 meat mixture and add another tortilla. Continue until gone. Make sure you have enough meat mixture left to put some on the very top.

If you want.... add a little cheese to the top and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Top with Fat Free Sour Cream and enjoy! I also like adding a salad on top. Its a good way to get your veges in:)

The total points value will vary depending on how much meat you use and the type of tortillas you use. Its usually between 4-6 pts per serving. 4 Servings.

Body Pumpin

2009-02-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

I just have to say that I LOVE my Body Pump Class! I started this class once a week with some hesitation, in the middle of December. Classes freak me out a little and I didn't have much time in between my marathon training schedule so I wasn't sure about the whole thing. I decided to be brave and give it a shot. Thinking about it all now...I think it was one of the best decisions I have made for my body. I am now doing it twice a week and am really reaping the rewards. I feel stronger, my core feels stronger, I can lift more weight than when I started and I can actually see a little muscle on this body. It is definitely worth the 5:00 am early wake up call from the alarm clock. If any of you are looking for something different and something that makes weight lifting a lot more fun this class is it!

P.S.I am going to invest in a heart rate monitor so I can see how much I am actually burning in the class. I will let you know Thursday!

The Dreaded 16.....take two!

2009-02-15T15:02:00.000-08:00

Last week I ran the DREADED 16 miles! I don't know what it is about this particular number but most everyone that Ive talked to says that it a hard one. I remember Loren coming home after this run while training for the Saint George Marathon and he was just miserable. That is exactly the way I felt last week when I ran mine. The back of my knee hurt the whole time and I was so sluggish. It was ROUGH!

Yesterday ...I had the wonderful opportunity of running it again and on one of my favorite places...The Dreaded Treadmill! Lucky me huh? It was snowing outside, so I didn't have a choice really. I'm not one for running in the snow. I am so scared about biting it and hurting myself. (It has been known to happen) Loren and I decided to take the kids with us to the kids care at the gym. We thought that it would be nice to get both of our runs over with. Usually our Saturdays are shot because we each have to do our long runs so we have no time to play.

Much to my surprise...yesterdays run was good. I did a lot better than the week before minus the annoying interruptions from The Kids Care Lady. ( A diaper change,a fussy baby and so on) I am so glad that I was able to do it and feel good. Now that my miles are up, I occasionally get a little worried. You always fear an injury or worry that you will hit a wall and not be able to continue. I have really been blessed....so far so good.

The one thing that I have really learned through this training, is that alot of it is a mental challenge more than a physical one. I... am the one who decides if I will get out and complete my run for the day. I.... am the one who decides to push through and continue running when I think I can no longer continue. I.... am the one who decides all of these things. It is all up to me and no one else! See you at the finish line!

Mexi-Recipes! Ole!

2009-02-15T08:28:00.000-08:00

I can not take credit for these fantastic recipes.They came from my friend Jill. They are all muy delicioso! Enjoy!

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

8-10 Roma tomatoes or do as I do and add two cans Rotele. They have all different flavors so pick the one that best suits your likings.

1 can drained corn

1 can drained black beans (Bush's seasoned black beans are good)

Chopped cilantro

Green Onions

1/2 squeezed lime

1 diced avocado ( it is good with out too if you don't want the extra points)

Put all the ingredients together.... refrigerate.... and its done! Loren and I like to eat this with the Light Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips.

5 Servings 2pts per serving without avocado

5 servings 4pts per serving with avocado

Chicken Tacos

This is one easy crock pot meal. Put it together in the morning and then when you are ready for dinner its done! Dont forget to eat these tacos with Dunford Tortillas!

3-4 Large Frozen Chicken Breasts (20 ounces)

1/2 jar of a large bottle of Pace

1 bag of frozen corn

1/2-1 pack of taco seasoning.I like the taco bell kind.

Cook 6 hrs on High.

6 servings 4pts per serving

Taco Soup

1 pound of Turkey Burger or lean ground beef

14 oz Diced Can Tomatoes

8oz tomato sauce

1 can corn Drained

1/2 onion

1 cup water or add until desired consistency

3 Cans of Beans(I use one can seasoned chili beans in mild sauce and then 2 cans kidney or red beans or any other kind that you like)

1 package taco seasoning

Brown meat with onion and drain.

Add everything in a large pot and simmer on the stove.

8 servings 5 pts per serving(that is calculated by using extra lean ground beef)

No Fat Pumpkin Recipes!

2009-02-13T12:23:00.000-08:00

This recipe is one of my favorites! I cant even remember where I got this recipe but it is definitely worth making. This is also picky husband approved.

Yummy No Fat Pumpkin Bread
1 and 1/2 c Sugar. You can also use splenda if you want. I recommend using both. (1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup splenda)

1 c. canned pumpkin

1/2 c. no sugar added applesauce

1/2 c. water

egg substitute for two eggs

Mix these ingredients together with beater and then add:

1 2/3 c Whole Wheat Flour( or white)I use whole wheat and its good!

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

2-3 tsp pumpkin pie spice to taste( you can also just use 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp nutmeg if you don't have the pumpkin pie spice)

Bake at 350 for 65-70 minutes in a large bread loaf pan or 35-40 minutes in a 9 by 13pan. Makes 12 servings. 2 pts per serving.

For best results cover with tin foil when cooling. It will make it really moist. Add chocolate chips or nuts if you want some Pizazz!

Pumpkin Mousse

2 small packages of instant sugar-free vanilla pudding

2 cups of no-fat (skim) milk

1 teaspoon pumpkin spice

15 ounce can of pumpkin

8 ounces of fat-free Cool Whip= 1 Tub

Make pudding first, then fold in ingredients. Refrigerate and then serve! How easy is that!

And best of all, it's only 1.5 points for one cup of mousse.

Want another pumpkin idea?....take your favorite cake mix... add a can of pumpkin to it and whalla! Youve got the easiest cookies ever. Drop spoonfuls of batter on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until done. Check out the new lower sugar cake mixes. Those are a great option!

Meat-a-licious Fab Food Finds

2009-02-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

Here are some more fab food finds that I wanted to share this week. I just ran to the grocery store today and picked some up. I definitely cant live with out these products. They on my list every week!

Jennie O Turkey Burgers 4 pts

I find these tasty creations in the frozen meat section at Walmart. They are pre made patties, so they are convenient and all ready to go. All I do, is thaw them out in the microwave and then into my skillet they go. The flavor is fantastic AND they are pretty lean. I also put them in the skillet and chop them up into smaller pieces if my recipe calls for ground beef. I use these for everything. I don't even buy beef anymore. They run less than $6.00 for a box which is three pounds. Now THAT is a great price!

If your craving fries to go along with your burger.... just take some potatoes, slice them up, toss them in some olive oil or pam and bake them with some season salt at 400 degrees until golden brown. This always satisfies my fatty french fry cravings. If you like sweet potatoes use them as well...they are so GOOD!

Oscar Meyer Turkey Bacon 1 pt

I have to say that I have tried many different kinds of turkey bacon and this one is the WEINER! Loren and I love to make BLTS with these. We toast up some Sara Lee Delightful Bread,(45 calories a slice) spread on some Light Laughing Cow Cheese and then we load them up with the bacon and our favorite veges. These are to die for and I'm not a huge bacon fan. I also make the egg white breakfast burritos that I talked about last week and add a slice of bacon to each and that's good too.

Oscar Meyer 98% Fat Free Hot Dogs 1 pt

I am not a HUGE hot dog fan but, when I'm in the mood for a good chili dog or I need a low point meal I use these. I think they are really good, especially with some Nally's Turkey Chili on top. I usually skip the bun to save points but that's just me. Loren and the kids like them too and we usually go through a pack or so a week. They are a great option.

Starkist Creations 3pts

If your a tuna connaisseur like me, you will love these tuna pouches. First off, I love the no mess pouch, second they have such yummy flavors. My fave is the sweet and spicy. I just tried the tomato pesto and that's is good too. The whole pouch is only 3 pts and packed full of protein. I usually don't even add mayo but if you want to add some I would recommend the light or the fat free. The tuna is so flavorful already that you really don't need anything else. I love to use these to make tuna wraps with the Dunford Tortillas. Tasty!

Gallo Light Salami 1-2 pts

I just bought some of these today for sandwiches. I use to buy them all the time and got sick of them. These are a little pricey but worth it. They are good with cream cheese alone or on a cracker. They also are good on sandwiches or in wraps. Sometimes I just eat them right out of the bag. Yum!

Hormel Turkey-Roni 1-2 pts
I cant live without these babies. I haven't bought real pepperoni in years and I don't miss them one bit! I make homemade pizza all the time and have to have these on top! These are also good just out of the bag.

By finding alternative, low fat products, I have really been able to change my eating habits for the better. I still eat all the things I love, but I just lighten everything up. I don't think by eating healthy any of us should suffer and feel restricted all the time. Just make your favorite meals "skinnier". It IS possible, I do it everyday! I can still enjoy eating and I sware that things just taste better AND I feel better because I'm eating without the guilt!

Fabulous Food Finds

2009-02-06T11:31:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted here on Healthy Thoughts for a LONG time but recently decided that I would try to be better. I track all of my food and exercise on Weight Watchers.com so I haven't used this blog much. I have people asking me a lot of questions about what I did to lose weight and what I do to keep it off and so I thought I would start answering them on my blog. People are always asking me what I eat and if I know of any good snacks and YES...I know a plethora of them. Ill start with some of my faves!

1.My latest Fab Food Find is from my friend Jill. They are the whole wheat tortillas found at the Dunford Bakery. Yes....that is the home of the best chocolate donut in the world! Who would have known that they would have 0 point tortillas that ROCK MY SOCKS! I usually count them for a bit more because I eat a lot of them but do as you may. They are around 3.24 ish a bag for eight and worth every penny. They also freeze well, so go buy a bunch and stick them in the freezer. I use them for tacos, wraps, burritos and I love putting them in the oven with some pam and sprinkling splenda and sugar on them. YUM!
A little advice for when you go in...just make sure to where blinders and put a close pin on your nose. Don't even look at the chocolate donuts alla heaven! Stay strong....It IS possible. I haven't crumbled yet:)

8556 South 2940 West
West Jordan, Utah 84088

2 Vita Tops=1 pt
You can purchase these from vitalicious.com. Ive tried most of them and would recommend the chocolate. The different varieties of all the chocolate taste all the same to me. What I have discovered is they taste better from the mixes when you make them at home and they are cheaper. I recommend the brownies and the chocolate muffins. I don't even use there special pan. I use a muffin pan and make them both that way. They are to die for. Make some up and freeze the rest to take to work or have handy for a snack attack!

A little advice. Don't eat more than two at a time or you ll feel so bloated you might blow. Loren ate about 6 once and was so sick. These suckers are so full of fiber they will tear you up! Don't learn the hard way. You might want to chase them down with some water and a beano:)

Also if you order them put in ronisweigh in the coupon code box to get 10% off.

3. Morning Star Corn Dogs=3 pts
I tried these today and yep..they were as good as they looked. Don't let the fact that these are vegetarian scare you off. I am always willing to try most anything and have found that a lot of these meatless products are quite tasty. Give them a try....you might just be surprised. Next week I will try another product and tell you how it goes:

A little advice....if your cooking for someone else like a "picky man"...don't even say a word that they are vege dogs. He wont even know. After he tells you how much he liked them....then you can spill the beans. Loren just enjoyed some tofu noodles the other day. I was completely shocked because I thought they were sick!

4. Laughing Cow Light French Onion Cheese Wedges=1 pt
I find these at Walmart by the deli section by the ready to eat sandwiches and wraps. They are really good on the dunford tortiallas with turkey or even with some egg for a breakfast burrito. Tasty...Tasty...Tasty...

5. Speaking of eggs.....I have discovered All Whites by Crystal Farms and I really like them. You can eat more of these than regular eggs because they are fat free, low cal egg whites. I can make a huge breakfast burrito or two and it satisfies me until lunch.

One more thing. Go to Hungrygirl.com for great tips and recipes. I LOVE her and have loved many of her recipes. Her hungrygirl cookbook has come in handy AND she puts together a grocery list to help you get what you need to get started!

Check back later for more Fab Food Finds!

Food Journal Jan 19th

2009-01-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
kashi, milk and half banana (6)
vita top (1)
chickfila (9)
vita top and popcicle (3)
curry chicken, salad and green beans (7)
ran 5 miles (-5)
popcorn (1)
Total:	22

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal Jan 18th

2009-01-18T17:09:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
kashi cereal (6)
turkey bagel and light chips (7)
taco salad (5)
vita top and popcicle (3)
Total:	21

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal Jan 17th

2009-01-18T06:54:00.001-08:00

Food	Units
kashi,milk and banana (6)
turkey sandwich, lots of veges (4)
light ruffles (1)
vita top (2)
sweet tomatoes(14)
protein bar and cereal (8)
ran 14 miles (-14)
Total:	20

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal Jan 16th

2009-01-16T17:11:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
oatmeal, toast and milk	6
vita top	1
ww pizza	7
vita top	2
turkey burger, baked fries and edamame	7
ww ice cream	2
ran5 miles	-5
Total:	20

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Not weighing myself....frustrated at scale. Gaining some weight due to Marathon training uugh!

Food Journal Jan 15th

2009-01-15T17:12:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
eggs, toast and prunes	6
lunch biaggis with dessert ?	15
oatmeal and toast	5
Total:	26

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal Jan 13th

2009-01-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
cereal	6
homemade pizza and popcicle	6
fiber one bar and pineapple	3
vita top and tea	2
70 minutes running and elyptical	-7
chick fila	8
ice cream	2
Total:	20

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

127.00

Food Journal Jan 12th

2009-01-12T17:03:00.001-08:00

Food	Units
breakfast waffles and vita top	5
protein bar	3
lunch sandwich	3
ice cream ww	2
ran 5 miles	-5
snack popcorn, prunes and beef jerky	3
chicken noodle soup	7
vita top and diet cocoa	2
Total:	20

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Jan 11th Food Journal

2009-01-11T16:54:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
shredded wheat, milk, muffin	7
snack vita top and popcorn	3
lunch tuna sandwich and apple	5
dinner roasted chicken, carrots and potatoes	6
dessert ice cream	2
Total:	23

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

January 10th Food Journal

2009-01-10T17:35:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
shredded wheat	4
vita brownies yum!	4
light hot dogs and half potato	5
a few m&ms and a ww ice cream	3
ran 12 miles	-10
protein bar	3
salad bar	10
Total:	19

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

126.8

Food Journal Jan 9th

2009-01-09T18:17:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
shredded wheat and milk	4
part of special k bar	1
fiber one bar	2
ice cream	2
chicken salad	6
popcorn	1
vitatop	1
prunes	1
eliptical 45 min	-4
chicken taco with veges	6
Total:	20

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Achilles hurt the last few days. Rested and then did Elyptical and felt good.

126.3

Food Journal Jan 8th

2009-01-08T16:21:00.001-08:00

Food	Units
shredded wheat, milk and a carmel	5
sandwich, light chips and prunes	5
smoothie	2
ice cream	2
chicken spinach salad and bread	6
popcorn	1
Total:	21

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

125.3

Food Journal Jan 7th

2009-01-07T17:32:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
#food cereal, milk and granola bar	6
#activity ran 70 minutes	-5
#food cookie	1
#food chickfila and ice cream	11
# food popcorn	1
#food chicken taco with veges	6
#food protein bar	4
Total:	24

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

125.1

Food Journal Jan 6

2009-01-06T16:23:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
#food shredded wheat and milk	4
#food snack teddy grahams	1
#food lunch egg salad and light ruffles	6
#food protein bar	3
#food fiber one bar,crackers and popcorn	4
#food baked potato, chili and brocolli	5
#activity ran 3 miles and 15 elyptical	-4
#food ice cream	2
Total:	21

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Hungry....Hungry....Hungry

Food Journal Jan 5th

2009-01-05T16:35:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
#food honey nut cheerios and milk	5
#food chico stick	2
#activity ran 5 miles	-4
#food sweet tomatos and snack	9
#food crackers	1
#food protein bar	3
#food burrito and veges	4
#food popcorn	1
Total:	21

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

I have to announce that I beat the Holiday Battle of the Bulge! No weight gained...yes...Im stronger than I thought!

123.8

Food Journal Dec 24

2008-12-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
#food cereal, milk and small serving ice cream	6
#food another small serving of ice cream	1
#food christmas eve appetizers and a magic bar	15
#food cafe rio salad minus the good stuff	7
#activity ran 6 miles	-6
Total:	23

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

124.00

Food Journal Dec 23rd

2008-12-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
#food cereal, milk and protein bar	7
#food homemade wholewheat pizza	4
#food teddy grahams, diet hot cocoa and popcorn	2
#food small serving of no sugar added, low fat ice cream	1
#activity body pump 1 hour	-3
#food protein bar	3
#food granola bar, hot dogs and baked fries	7
Total:	21

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

122.9

Back to food journaling....

2008-12-22T21:28:00.000-08:00

cereal and milk and a few bites of kids snacks 7
chick fila with a few mints 9
popcorn, special k water and bite of protein bar 2
homemade whole wheat pizza, salad and a small serving of ice cream 7
Activity: ran 6 miles -5
Total: 20

Daily Food Journal

2008-11-25T14:57:00.000-08:00

Im back on track with journaling.....especially because this is going to be a hard week. If I journal, I dont loose control. Thanksgiving....here I come. I can do this!

Food	Units
shredded wheat, milk and 10 m&ms	5
fiber one muffin	2
chick-fila, and starburst	10
pudding and protein bar	4
Total:	21

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal #16

2008-11-11T22:32:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
shredded wheat, milk and honey	5
chickfila	10
(-5) ran 6 miles	-5) ran 6 mile
pb&j	6
apple	2
Total:	18

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Goals

2008-11-07T18:25:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since Ive blogged lately on Healthy Thoughts so I thought I needed to share something that Ive been thinking about and why yes....its healthy:)

I usually just post my food journals every day and Im sure that is SO exciting for everyone to read. Sorry.... I know its boring but it really helps me stay on track and the last bit of weight has been coming off because Im journaling. Hurray!

Ive been thinking alot about goals lately and why they are so important. They are important whether they are spiritual goals or temporal ones. Doesnt goal making make things easier to obtain? We as humans need things to work towards. If we dont have anything to work towards..... we often are doing nothing.

You all know my next goal.....whats yours? and how do you stay focused? Please share:)

Food Journal #15

2008-11-07T18:01:00.001-08:00

Food	Units
Activity: ran 4 miles	-4
cereal milk and half a banana	5
snack size snickers	2
cafe rio salad hold the bad stuff	7
mints	1
sandwich, fat free pringles, cereal and skinny cow	9
Total:	20

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal #14

2008-11-06T18:33:00.001-08:00

Food	Units
cereal and milk	4
protien bar and rice cake	3
chinese chicken salad and a few bites of the kids lunch	6
skinny cow	2
half of protein bar and fat free pudding	2
butternut squash ravioli with a whole wheat roll	7
Activity: 50 minutes eliptical	-5
Total:	19

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal #13

2008-11-05T20:02:00.000-08:00

Food	Units
waffles, sugar free syrup and fat free whipped cream	3
protein bar	2
chickfila and protein bar	9
fat free pringles	1
pizza on a whole wheat pita with veges and turkeyroni	7
carmel rice cake	1
Activity: eliptical 45 min	-4
Total:	19

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal #12

2008-11-03T20:41:00.001-08:00

Today I was trying to be better with eating healthier choices. It sooo hard to be good when your on vacation. Im back on track today and thats what matters.

Food	Units
shredded wheat and milk	4
jasons deli salad	7
rice cake and pumkin oatmeal cookies	3
pasta with turkey meatballs and brocolli	6
Total:	20

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal #11

2008-10-28T15:58:00.001-07:00

I have been so bad posting these lately. The problem is that I forget to copy and paste them from twitter before I go to bed and then the program I use wont post the previous days if I didnt do it on time. Im going to try to be better.

Food	Units
cereal and milk	6
burrito and veges	5
pumpkin mousse	3
toast and half of fiber one bar	2
butternut squash fries	2
sugar free werthers	2
popcorn	1
Total:	21

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal #10

2008-10-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

Food	Units
waffles and sugar free syrup and fat free cool whip	4
sugar free pudding and 10 m&ms	2
spinach chicken salad with fiber one bar	9
Activity: ran 6 miles	-5
manicotti with salad	10
Total:	20

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal #9

2008-10-21T16:57:00.001-07:00

Food	Units
breakfast cherrios and milk	5
jasons deli salad and cone	8
special k protein bar	3
tostada pie and grapes	6
Total:	22

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

One dang good recipe!

2008-10-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

So if you dont know this already...Im a big fan of the Lettuce Wraps at PF Changs. They are not THAT bad calorie wise if you choose to go out and eat them there. I think you can have the whole serving for 10 pts. Not too bad right?

Well....I just found a rockin recipe online and I must say they are pretty good. Not exactly the same.... but I DEVOURED them Friday night after Loren and I made them. Im not sure of the point value. It wouldnt be too hard to figure that out. I didnt make the Special dipping sauce....I read it was dang good.... but to me...thats alot of unneccisary calories. I didnt feel the need to dip these wraps, because they were tasty alone. I also made some LING LING Pot stickers that can be found in the freezer section of the grocery store that are low in fat and tasty and went very well together.

I must add that I used Low Sodium Soy Sauce in the stir fry sauce. I would recommend that....all that sodium cant be good. I prefer to drink it in my diet cokes:)

I also used Olive Oil

Ingredients
3 tablespoons oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup water chestnut
2/3 cup mushroom
3 tablespoons chopped onions
1 teaspoon minced garlic
4-5 leaves iceberg lettuce

Special Sauce
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon hot mustard
2 teaspoons water
1-2 teaspoon garlic and red chile paste
Stir Fry Sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

Directions
1Make the special sauce by dissolving the sugar in water in a small bowl.

2Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice and sesame oil.

3Mix well and refrigerate this sauce until you're ready to serve.

4Combine the hot water with the hot mustard and set this aside as well.

5Eventually add your desired measurement of mustard and garlic chili sauce to the special sauce mixture to pour over the wraps.

6Bring oil to high heat in a wok or large frying pan.

7Saute chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes per side or done.

8Remove chicken from the pan and cool.

9Keep oil in the pan, keep hot.

10As chicken cools mince water chestnuts and mushrooms to about the size of small peas.

11Prepare the stir fry sauce by mixing the soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar together in a small bowl.

12When chicken is cool, mince it as the mushrooms and water chestnuts are.
13With the pan still on high heat, add another Tbsp of vegetable oil.

14Add chicken, garlic, onions, water chestnuts and mushrooms to the pan.

15Add the stir fry sauce to the pan and saute the mixture for a couple minutes then serve it in the lettuce"cups".

16Top with"Special Sauce".

Food Journal #8

Food	Units
shredded wheat, half of a banana and a half cup milk	5
sugar free pudding with fat free cool whip	2
lunch, turkey sandwich with veges and fiber one bar	5
snack dum dums	1
snack, rice cake with turkeyroni	2
curry chicken, cus cus and green beans	9
Activity: ran 5 miles	-5
Total:	19

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal #7

2008-10-17T18:46:00.001-07:00

Food	Units
snack pumpkin bread	2
my own homemade pf changs lettuce wraps and potstickers	11
ice cream sinless sweet cream	4
	13
Activity: ran 10 miles	-10
Total:	20

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal #6

2008-10-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

Food	Units
breakfast waffies and sugar free syrup	5
vita top 2	4
cafe rio tostada salad	8
dinner, burrito with veges and some baked tostitos	4
snack half of a power bar	2
ran 6 miles	-6
Total:	17

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food Journal #5

2008-10-13T18:14:00.000-07:00

Ive slacked. I was gone all weekend and didnt journal and wasnt as good as I shoudve been. A lot of mindless snacking went on. Its sooooo hard for me to get out of my routine. I am really good when Im at home but if im somewhere else....uugh! Ive been better today! I messed up alot and it should say 22 points.

Food	Units
breakfast, waffles and sugarfree syrup	5
2 vita tops	4
lunch chickfila	9
dinner, turkey burger no bun, baked fries and green beans	6
mess up	-6
snack tootsie pops sugar free	1
tootsie pops	1
ran 5 miles	-4
Total:	16

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Food finds and daily points journal #4

2008-10-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

So Ive discovered some yummy low fat healthy foods lately and want to share. The first ones are Vita Tops. They were recommended by Roni at Ronisweigh. I love this girl. She shares yummy recipes and is so inspiring. She has lost 70 or so pounds and has completely changed her life. Theres a link to Green Lite Bites on my family blog if you want to check her other blog out as well.
Anyways......I have been wanting to try these Vitatops out for a while now and so I finally ordered them online. I also ordered a Vitacake for Lorens birthday, No...Im not mean and dont feel bad for Loren.....this cake is going to be yummy! Ive heard only good reviews and if its anything like the Vita tops it will taste good. This company also makes brownies mixes, muffin mixes and they also make fresh muffins and brownies. They make them the day you make an order and the they send them right out. I got my cake in two days. My whole order was a little pricey..... but health food is. It was definitly worth it. There yummy Vita Tops have 15 vitamins and minerals, are low fat and only 100 calories.

Another yummy treat are the Quaker Mini Delight rice cakes. I know...I know....rice cakes? I thought the same thing..... but when we were down in St George at the Runners Expo they gave free samples of there chocolatey mint drizzle 90 calorie packs and oh yeah! These are also Loren approved. We ate them all real quick! The caramel ones were good too....... but Im a chocolate girl.

Food	Units
breakfast...what else...shredded wheat and a half cup milk	4
bito honey	1
viat top.... so yummy!	2
lunch turkey sandwich and veges plus pasta bites	5
small apple and 100 cal hershey	3
dinner, burrito with veges	6
weight lifted 40 min	-3
vita top	2
Total:	20

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Daily Food Journal #3

2008-10-08T17:58:00.001-07:00

Food	Units
shredded wheat and half cup milk	4
pumpkin bread	2
bito honey	1
hershey 100 calorie bar	2
chicken sandwich with veges, olives and fishies	6
popcorn	2
chickfila sandwich and salad	8
ran 6 miles	-4
Total:	21

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Daily Food Journal # 2

2008-10-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

Food	Units
shredded wheat with a half cup milk	2
pumpkin bread	2
shredded wheat...i messed up so heres the rest from breakfast	2
2 bito honey	1
lunch turkey sandwich and baked tostitos and salsa	4
banana and fat free cocoa	3
snack fiber one bar	2
dang im hungry, grapes	1
dinner, burrito with veges	4
popcorn	1
weight lifted	-3
Total:	19

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Daily Points Journal

2008-10-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Food	Units
kashi cereal with a half cup milk	6
fiber one bar and a few bites of a cookie	3
chick fila	10) chicken sandwich salad and mint
fishies	1
pear	1
soup and baked potato	6
Total:	27

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

The race of life.......

2008-10-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking alot lately....about the title of my post...The race of life. As you may have noticed, races have been on my mind alot, expecially with Lorens marathon and with my half marathon coming up. I have been thinking about the steps that we have taken to prepare for these physical races and have been reminded of the importance of my spiritual training. Just as I am preparing myself for a phsyical race, I also need to prepare myself and train myself for the race of life, that I am running everyday. THIS race should be my priority.

As I listened to conference yesterday, the General Young Women President used this quote that I loved from a female New York Marathon winner. She said " The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." This statement is so true. Preparation is everything. Last weekend Loren ran a great race. He ran such a good race because he had the will to prepare. He never missed a training run and he always worked hard to fit the run into his schedule. Sometimes that meant missing out on fun things or getting up at 4:00 am. It was NEVER easy. I knew somedays he didnt WANT to run, but he went anyway. He knew that, if he didnt.....he would regress and in the end he wouldnt run a good race. He tried to look at the future reprocussions of his decisions, rather than letting the NOW get hold. Sometimes we think things are just too hard or its just not the time and lose sight of how the choices we make really do affect our future. The way we feel at the end of a race when we gave it all we had, is such a rewarding feeling. On the other hand, if we were to slack on our training, quit or we didnt give it our all, in the end, we would feel terrible. I think that when we cross that spiritual finish line.... knowing that we didnt do all that we could of, the feelings of devastation, remorse and the dreaded feeling of "I wish I wouldve done better" will be horrible. Atleast now, in this life...we have the oppurtunity to try again. The race of life is continual. We have the oppurtunity to try again and to run our race better than we did on the first few laps. As we continue running, we will become stronger in the gospel and we will be stronger to tackle the herdels ahead. We will all have sore knees, blisters, achy backs, and we might even fall really hard, but we HAVE to pick ourselves up and continue. We were given a trainer, a free trainer. Heavenly Father is the best trainer of all. He is there to guide you and I and to help us acheive our goals. He will let us know our weaknesses, so that we can work on them and he will help us work on them. When we feel like we can no longer run, he will pick us up. I know this of a surety. He has picked me up and brushed me off many times. We need to ask him for what we are lacking. He will listen. He has given us a running handbook and a complete training schedule. The gospel is here. It is here to help us in our race.

I know it isnt easy, I am running it too. However, I find that as I make the time for spiritual training that I DO better. I testify of this. I feel a HUGE difference in my life. I know of its importance. It is worth all the effort. Nothing in this life feels better than the joy that living gospel principles bring. NOTHING. I have looked for it and have found nothing better. Train with me....lets all run together and encourage eachother. Think about this, as will I, about our training. find something you need to work on and do it. This week part off my training will be to rewatch conference at night online, when my kids are in bed. I missed alot of it and know that I need to listen to their guidance uninterupted. I always feel so uplifted and filled when I do. Think about something that you can do this week to fill your cup. I promise you and I will feel stronger and we will run our next lap even better than the one before.

My new food journal

2008-10-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

So I am finally starting an online food journal. It was recommended by Roni from Green Lite Bites. (Theres a link on my family blog to her site.) Anyway......I NEED to start writing down what I eat. I use to be really good at this and I have been really slacking in this area. I do much better weight loss wise when I write down everything that I eat. I am also realizing how much I tend to take a bite of this and take a bite of that and not count it in my calorie intake. Today it all stops! Im hoping this journal will help. One of my Weight Watcher teachers use to call those BLT's. Bites, Licks and Tastes. Im hoping that by tracking my food I will try harder to resist these temptations of mine.....if I lose control...then Im counting them. I love Twitter because Roni has made it possible to track your points on there and I can use my phone to add what I eat to my blog. I think Im diggin this idea. Hopefully I will want to eat better knowing you all can see what I stuff my face with:)

5 weeks to the starting line

2008-09-25T09:10:00.001-07:00

Ok...so Ive got five weeks before my half marathon. Wish me luck guys. I really need it. Ive also got 5 pounds to lose as well. Uugh! Wish me luck on that one as well. I made that goal back in July that I would be a certain weight before the run and its been hard. I have totally plateaued. I just cant seem to get under a certain number. I tried to start changing things up a bit....doing weights and so on but I know sometimes that doesn't necessarily drop the pounds...usually just the inches so Ive decided to stop for a while until after the big run. Its been hard finding the time anyway with running, work and children, so I put that part on hold.

Im feeling pretty good so far. As you all know I had some knee issues and then last week my back went out for about 5 days. I suddenly hopped up from a chair to save Lia from Rowan and I had a horrific pain. I stopped running for a week and feel completely better. I just really want to finish this half marathon so bad. A marathon may be far from reach for me with these issues but Im still going to try. If I have an injury Ill stop running..... but I have to try. I will see how I feel after a half marathon and If I can still walk after...great...its on!

Next weekend we are off to St George for Lorens Marathon. How many people can say they trained for a Marathon in six months with no prior running. Loren use to run alot but he hadnt in years. I am s0 proud of him. It goes to show you...anyone can do it with enough drive. I will post when we get back. Good luck Loren!

Touched by two Angel's

2008-09-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

I don't want this to sound cheesy. I really don't.... but this really describes what happened. I really felt like I was touched by two Angel's. No... not a Angel, Angel but by a few people that I saw in the temple. After our temple session Friday night Loren and I sat in the Celestial Room at the Mt Timpanogos Temple. It was beautiful and so peaceful. I have never experienced it so peaceful. It was extremely quite and It was a very special moment for me. I didnt want to leave....I was in heaven. As I gazed around the room...I noticed a young woman weeping. I tried not to stare as I watched her and wondered to myself what she might be going through. I felt like she was hurting and that she must be there for comfort. She seemed very sad. As I watched her, a man walked over and handed her a tissue and proceeded to sit by her. He hugged her and as he did, I noticed he was very sick. He was pale and all his hair was gone. I think that he was terminally ill. However, to me....he looked like an angel and was beautiful. His eyes were extremely bright. As they interacted with eachother, I soon realized it was her husband. My heart ached for her. I cant imagine what that would be like. To have your husband suffering from an illness and thinking that he might soon leave this earth. I wanted to hug her so bad. This woman really touched me and left a lasting impression on me. They both impressed me. Look at where they were. They were in the temple. In a time of great distress and sadness....they turned to the Lord for comfort. The whole experience really touched me. It really made me think.

There was a time in my life when I had a difficult experience and I didn't turn to the Lord for help. I completely went the opposite direction. I relied only on myself and ended up in a very dark place. I only made myself worse....when I couldve turned to the Lord to ease my pain. I later learned that I always need to turn to the Lord when I need comfort and guidance, otherwise... the adversary can take great hold. This experience Friday night really reaffirmed my testimony of this and I am so grateful that these angles touched my soul.

Melissa..... this ones for you

2008-09-11T13:45:00.000-07:00

Here are the answers to your questions. I will try to be short and sweet.

The number one thing that has helped me lose weight was first off....using the Weight Watchers plan. It has helped me change the way I eat. You do not have to use a so called diet to lose the pounds though. It is a mind set change. I hate the thought of a DIET and most of us do. We start off pretty motivated but soon feel deprived so we find ourselves ingulfed in a serious binge of all the things we felt deprived of. (I remember the day I bought a whole pan of brownies and ate them till I couldn't eat no mo.) but that's a different story. Weight Watchers is what I know... so I did it. It is not a Diet to me. It taught me how to eat right and I have a different relationship with food than I did before. So healthy eating is key. You can exercise all you want but if you don't change your eating habits you will quit exercising and give up because you wont see the results. I can still gain weight when I exercise, if I am eating poorly. Another thing that helps me, is when I think about how many calories something has, and how long I would have to exercise to burn it off and it usually helps me turn away. If I cant resist..... its all about good old "Portion Control." I will take half a piece or Ill have just a few bites.

Eat lots of Fruits and Veges. I have to make sure I get them in everyday. They help fill me up and then later I can eat something heavier like a burger if I wanted. (no fries) Just making small changes really help. For example....No Mayo, No sugar soda, Side salad instead of fries, healthy dressing(goodbye ranch), whole grain bread and so on.

Second...exercise. This is the key to feeling good. Yes it helps burn calories but for me it is my dose of Prozac. During exercise your body releases so many different hormones. The ones I like.... are The Endorphins. (An endogenous opioid from the pituitary gland that blocks pain, decreases appetite, creates a feeling of euphoria (the exercise high), and reduces tension and anxiety.) It works and I love it!

I exercise 5-6 times a week. My training has me running 4 times a week and then I usually do 30 minutes cross training two times a week. I just started weights on those same days. I have made it a priority to exercise. Everything revolves around our exercise schedule. Make sure you eat more if you exercise. Dont make your body think its starving or it will go into starvation mode. Also eat often. I eat 5-6 mini meals. Find out how much you should be eating to lose weight for your size. Eat half of what you will burn exercising. If you burn 400 calories...eat 200 more calories than what your limits are. Your body needs it. Change things up a bit too. Dont always eat a certain amount of calories. Eat high one day low the next. I usually eat more when I exercise and less when I dont. It keeps my body guessing.

Third...Lots of water. Atleast 6-8 glasses a day

Fourth ....realize that becoming healthy is all mental. I know I can have control. I know how good I feel when I do. I feel a difference when I am healthy(its not about being skinny) its about being healthy. I have more energy and I feel great mentally. You really do come to realize that no food can make you feel as good as being healthy.(except the chicken burrito at La Curva)Right Loren?

So here are the things I try to avoid

Fried food(Deep Fat... Fatty Fried:)

High Fat food( bad trans fatty foods.....but I eat my good fats.) which are.... Olive Oil, Almonds, Peanut Butter, Avocado and so on) Your body needs those fats. If I'm slacking on not eating those good fats, I stop losing. Don't overindulge though. Have a small serving every day

Yummy High Calorie desserts like the Paradise pie at Chile's. (1600 calories 78 grams of fat. I about died when I read it!)Really know what you are putting in your mouth. Ask for nutritional info. You would be amazed how unhealthy most restaurants are.

Things I eat

Fruits and Veges( if you crave fries.....make fries from Fresh Potatoes. Slice and bake with Fat free cooking spray or Olive Oil) Get creative with salads. Reach for an apple rather than chips. I really do think about Nutritional Value. I think....what am I going to get out of eating this? Chips really have no value. I LOVE Cheetos and Fritos...but we no longer have a relationship. Here and there I may have a few if I am confronted with them.

Whole Grains...never white, Wholw whaet tortillas, hotdog buns, hamburger buns, waffles

Lean Meats(Jennie O Frozen Turkey Burgers) So Yummy! I also love the Oscar Meyer 98% Fat Free Hot Dogs..then I add Turkey Chili over the top.

Eggs and Tuna with Low Fat Mayo or plain

I love my protein bars. Rowan calls them Gas Bars. They do have that affect. Some are exstremely high in calories..... check that info and also eat foods with lots of fiber.

100 Calorie treats. Treat yourself every day. If I couldn't have a treat, I would die. I love the Slow Churned 1/2 the Fat Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream. It taste like the real stuff. I follow the serving size and have a half of cup.

Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Cheese sticks. Make sure to get your dairy in.

98% Fat Free Popcorn.

So....... I hope this helped. People ask me all the time how I did it.... but it really is simple. Eat right and exercise. There is nothing really miraculous or there is no Wonder Diet. Its just simply changing your bad habits and eating things we know are healthy and getting our bootys movin.

Its all in the shoes.......

2008-09-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

So as you all may know......Ive have been suffering from a bumm knee. It has been bothering me since the end of July, after I stupidly upped my milege alot in one week. I took some time off and started back a few weeks later but it still bothered me. I was getting really depressed because I wasnt sure if I would be able to run this half marathon that is coming up in November. I was really close to hanging up my running shoes and saying goodbye to them forever.

A few weeks ago...Loren and I went into Wasatch Running so he could get a new pair of shoes for the St George Marathon. His feet and heel were bothering him, so we decided to just bite the bullet and pay for a really good pair. While I was there, I was looking at all the cute shoes(ofcourse I look at style first) and was picking out the ones in my mind that I would get if I was getting shoes. I watched this sales associate help Loren fit his feet for shoes and was really impressed with the whole process. He took alot of time with him, making sure he got the right one for his foot type. During this process, this guy started asking me if I ran as well. I proceeded to tell him about my knee issues. He asked me what shoes I was running in and how long I had them. He told me right off, that my knee problem stemmed from my shoes.

So heres the issue......When I buy shoes....I usually go to Big 5 and pick out the cutest cheapest pair I can find. It is always about style first and then if they are comfy great...Ill buy them. The last ones I purchased, were Saucony(not a bad brand) but they werent top of the line and they were only 30 bucks. I always love a good deal. The problem was, that my insole fell out of one and I had put alot of miles on them already. After little thought, I told him I was interested in getting fitted as well. He watched me walk bear footed and noticed that my feet roll inwards as I walk. So he pulled out a couple different pairs to choose from that had a strong post in the arch. They werent the ones I intially thought were cute and he had to convince me that the ones I liked wouldnt help my knee problem. After I tried on the Asics, I was happy. They were still cute.

I also asked the guy about getting a knee brace. He told me that if I still had pain in a few weeks to come back.....but that he didnt think I would have to. He told me that he thought the shoes would really help. So guess what! He was right. I havent had knee pain at all. It was way worth paying more for good shoes. ($135 but worth every penny)

So.... I learned alot throught this process. I know what shoes to buy for myself and I know that I need to replace them every 300-500 miles. I happily started training for my half Marathon and I feel like I am going to be able to physically do this. I cant tell you how happy I am.

Time well spent

2008-09-10T13:18:00.000-07:00

This subject.....time....... has really been on my mind lately. When thought about....I feel like I am not doing so well with this subject and how I choose to spend it. It is so easy for me and I'm sure all of us, to get lost in the world and to forget the things that we should REALLY be doing with our time.

These are the questions that have running through my mind lately.

How is my temple attendance?

Am I serving others?

Am I a giving person....do I donate enough?

Do I have weekly Family Night?

How is my Scripture reading?

What does my Food Storage look like?

When was the last time I sent someone a note.. gave a compliment or a hug?

When was the last time I bore witness of Christ?

How do I feel about my church attendance?

When was the last time I worked on my Family History?

What am I doing to build up the Kingdom of God?

In all honesty...I can not reply to all of these questions and feel good about my answers. In time, I want to be able to and today I have committed to trying harder than I did yesterday. Don't get me wrong here.....I know we aren't perfect and we are human. Life brings other things into our paths that we have to do. Sometimes we cant do everything.... but we can try.

I thought about this while trying to plan a trip to the circus. Rowan has been dying to go and Loren and I have really wanted to take him. We bought tickets...which was a pain in the rump, trying to figure out what day would work and trying to find a babysitter who would be available on the same day. After much hassle....we ended up working it all out. That night as I laid in bed I was thinking about my temple attendance. I realized that I hadn't gone in a very long time. My excuse.....I had a new baby and we have just been too busy with work, running, kids and the business. Am I really though? In all honesty am I really too busy? Look at what I went through to go to the circus. I really wanted to go and I made it happen. Where are my priorities? So, lesson learned. I will make temple attendance more of a priority. I will make all of these things more of a priority. These are the things that give us real joy. I mean....I love the circus....that makes me happy too....but I need to be more balanced. That is the key. Balance. There needs to be a balance in every aspect of our lives. Its great to do fun things but its also important to those things we are asked to do.

So think about this. What if today was your last day.....your last day here on earth. How would you and I feel about the life we lived. Really think about this. If we were standing face to face with the Lord.... would we be able to look at him in his eyes or would we be ashamed that we didn't do enough. I hope with all my heart that I will lift my head up high and feel good about the choices I made. I really shouldnt say it that way......It goes beyond hope.....I can hope all I want but that really wont help me. This will be decided by my actions. I have to work....work really hard and get my priorities in line. So this is what I'm doing and I hope every single one of you reading this will feel the desire to act as well.

Lets make one goal....start with one and make it a priority. Do something that you have been wanting to do. I promise that as you and I spent more time building up the kingdom of God, that we will feel joy. This feeling is priceless and it is free.

Our journey to higher ground

2008-09-04T15:35:00.001-07:00

As you all might know.....Loren and I have started a new journey in our life. Actually we have started two. The first one is the obvious one. It is the one that we talk about alot and the one that is more noticeable. Together we are on a journey to better health. Lorens journey started when the doctor told him he needed to eat better because he had a "fatty liver" and for me it was the "baby weight" issue. So six months ago we started exercising and eating right and we have each lost 35 pounds or so and we feel great!

The second journey...our spiritual journey started in April. This journey started when we were confronted with a trial and realized that we needed to strenghthen our spiritual selves to battle it. We realized that we just werent putting enought time and effort into those simple things we needed to do every day to protect ourselves from the adversary. We were slacking big time and we were not consuming enough spiritual food. We have made huge spiritual changes in our life and that too has made us feel great!

So, I wanted to start this blog so that I could have a place to share my thoughts on these two journeys. I want it to be a place were we can all journey to higher ground and share insight and healthy thoughts.