How long will it take me to get skinny?!

We all want a quick fix answer, but here's the thing... there is no real quick fix when it comes to weight loss that actually stays off and I'm living proof. It has taken me literally years to work off the bulge but I'm a lot stronger person because of it. Sure, you can go on some crazy fad diet and probably drop some water weight quickly, but in order to keep it off, you have to change your life! Start a whole new routine!

If you figure out that typically I gym about 3 days a week on average, sometimes more, and I spend about an hour at the gym, plus I walk the dog several times a week, sometimes for 30 mins, sometimes for an hour or two, my average workout time is about 4 hours per week, almost every week... that means that in one year.. I will have spent about 208 hours "working out"...

Sure, that may sound like a lot... but consider this... there are 1248 hours in one year... 208 hours is NOTHING,... you do that sitting in front of the TV four days a week for an hour at a time, or shopping, or on the phone with family and friends. We all have busy lives... but.. if you take 30 mins a day... 7 days a week... that's 3.5 hours..

So, walk your dog, or take your kids on a walk, or walk with your friends or partner to meet friends for dinner or coffee or a light beer.

Play outside in the sunshine and take in some vitamin D while you're at it.

Do 30 mins of vigorous housework, vacuum, sweep, mop, dust, pull out the furniture... before you know it, 30 mins is gone.

Do something to help you get moving!

Go bowling, play putt-putt, go to the batting cages, play frisbee in the park, join a fitness class.

It's easier than it sounds... and before you know it, you'll be craving that feeling you get from being active. Whatever your fitness level is, there is something you can do.

What do YOU do to work out??

Frozen Meals - don't knock 'em til you try 'em...

Here's the deal, I LOVE to cook, but a lot of times it's easier for me to grab a quick frozen meal that has all the calories calculated for me and can give me a large variety of flavors. On a typical week day I will eat a frozen meal for lunch. Now, I know that they have a bad wrap, being full of sodium and preservatives. However, some frozen meals have no preservatives (Lean Cuisines) and have as much sodium as that can of soup you've been eating instead, or that fast food grilled chicken sandwich. All I'm saying here is, they haven't killed me yet and I can't tell you how many hundreds, possibly thousands of these things I've eaten in my life time. Also, as an added bonus, they're cheap! Often $2 a piece. That's only $10 for 5 lunches and unless you've been living in a cave like the Geico cavemen, that's a hell of a deal.

So, for you skeptics and people that have never tried a frozen meal, I've outlined some of my favorites. Oh and in case you can't tell, Lean Cuisines seem to be my frozen meal of choice - they also have a lot more options!

Enjoy:

Lean Cuisine - Tortilla Crusted Fish, Santa fe Rice and Beans, Spaghetti & Meatballs, BBQ Chicken Pizza, Margherita Pizza, Fajita- style Chicken Spring Rolls, Chicken Margherita, Sweet and Spicy Ginger Chicken, Asiago Cheese Tortelloni, Chicken in Peanut Sauce, Roasted Honey Chicken, Fiesta Grilled Chicken, Orange Chicken, Sesame Chicken, Parmesan Crusted Fish, Chicken with Lasagna Rollatini, Meatloaf with Whipped Potatoes, Cheese Ravioli, Classic Macaroni and Beef, Chicken Enchilada Suiza, Four Cheese Cannelloni

Smart Ones - Pasta with Ricotta and Spinach, Terriyaki Chicken and Vegetables, Orange Sesame Chicken, Ravioli Florentine, Three Cheese Ziti Marinara,Sweet and Sour Chicken, Macaroni & Cheese, Lasagna Bake with Meat Sauce

 

Healthy Choice - Asian Potstickers, Roasted Chicken Verde, Spicy Caribbean Chicken

Kashi - Mayan Harvest Bake, Red Curry Chicken, Southwest Style Chicken, Lemongrass Coconut Chicken, Pesto Pasta Primavera  *Kashi's are a little more expensive, but sometimes they have better flavor, plus their's are all natural.

The importance of eating breakfast...

So you've heard your whole life breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but maybe you never learned why that is the case. Breakfast literally means to break the fast from over night. When you do this is kick starts your metabolism and your body begins burning calories. When you don't eat breakfast you are essentially prolonging the fast from overnight which may cause you to over eat later in the day.

Don't just take my word for it. Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. is a Nutritionist at the Mayo Clinic and this is what she had to say on the topic:

Here are some of the ways regularly eating a healthy breakfast may help you lose excess weight and maintain your weight loss:

• Eating breakfast reduces your hunger later in the day, making it easier to avoid overeating. When you skip breakfast, you may feel ravenous later and be tempted to reach for a quick fix, such as candy from the vending machine. In addition, prolonged fasting — which occurs when you skip breakfast — can increase your body's insulin response, which in turn increases fat storage and weight gain. In fact, skipping breakfast actually increases your risk of obesity.

• Eating breakfast gets you on track to make healthy choices all day. People who eat breakfast regularly tend to eat a healthier diet — one that is more nutritious and lower in fat. When you skip breakfast, you're more likely to skip fruits and vegetables the rest of the day too.

• Eating breakfast gives you energy, increasing your physical activity during the day. A healthy breakfast refuels your body and replenishes the glycogen stores that supply blood sugar (glucose). Skipping breakfast is associated with decreased physical activity.

Unfortunately, more Americans are skipping breakfast. If you're one of them — whether you're trying to save time or cut calories — you may want to reconsider, especially if you're trying to control your weight.

Here are some of my favorite breakfast foods, in under 200 calories!

Yogurt - many people like yogurt, I do not, but I do recognize the benefits yogurt has to offer. There are many many brands and generic brands you can purchase for dirt cheap, in tons of flavors, plus it offers those pro-biotics which are all the craze right now! Calories range from as little as 60 per serving to as much as 230!

Oatmeal - one of my personal favorites! If you're in a hurry you can buy the instant oatmeal - but I would stick to the low sugar or sugar free kinds, otherwise you'll be consuming a lot of sugar! If you like to make up your own combinations a 1/2 cup of regular rolled or quick oats only contains about 150 calories. You can toss in dried fruits, nuts, frozen or fresh blueberries, raspberries, swirl in a tablespoon of jam or jelly, a tablespoon of peanut butter or nutella, whatever your heart desires!

Eggs - maybe you're a traditionalist and you want eggs... go ahead! Try not to consume more than 2 per day due to their cholesterol content, or buy the egg beaters which have zero cholesterol and half the calories.

Bacon - I eat bacon, quite frequently. Center cut bacon is a better cut of meat and is only 50 or 60 calories for two slices. Try it!

Grits - Another instant fix. You can buy quick grits in single serve pouches or in a canister. Either way, a serving will run you about 100 calories. It's okay, go ahead and toss in 1/2 tablespoon of light butter and bring it up to 125 calories for the meal.

Bagels - I love bagels, but they are packed with hidden calories. My suggestion - buy either mini bagels or Thomas' Bagel thins. Some mini bagels are 140 calories for 2 bagels. The bagel thins will run you 110. Go ahead and add 1/2 tablespoon of butter, or jam, or light cream cheese.

1.8 more pounds down... 98 pounds lost!

I am now 2 pounds away from 100 pound weight loss. At 132 pounds I feel incredible! However, I still have some toning and strength training to do in order to firm up some areas. It didn't take me a year to balloon out and it won't take me a year to tone up, gain strength and firm up that skin.

The thing you have to realize is that (and I'm sure I've touched on this before) this is not a quick fix diet. This is a lifestyle change. You have to make choices every day that effect your nutrition. Whether to eat the donut or muffin for breakfast or a bowl of oatmeal. Whether you make a quick run to McDonald's for lunch or to Subway. Whether you make grilled chicken for dinner or fried chicken.

It won't be easy. But you will settle into a routine that you will feel good about. A routine that you won't have to keep such a close eye on. This will become a way of life you can feel good about... trust me. Don't give up on yourself, you deserve to be healthy, happy and feel comfortable in your body.