Loving the Challenge!!!

I am ready to start my second 90 day Challenge with Body by Vi and am so excited!!  I'm a bit slow posting, but that's because I've been so busy!  As of today, I have lost 29lbs and almost 3 pants sizes! I do have a couple of complaints about the Body By Vi Program...#1.  Wearing baggy clothes is miserable, maybe more so than tight ones! I hate pulling up my pants and I don't want to buy new ones, b/c they will be too big soon too!!!  #2. Even my wedding ring is too loose?!?!?  Ugh, those ring adjuster things pinch my finger, I don't think Billy will understand if I tell him that Visalus caused me to NOT wear my ring anymore! lol!  It literally fell off my finger in Walmart, so I'll have to have it resized.  #3. I am missing my tv shows...I have way too much energy to sit down and watch a show!  My dvr is full with things I want to see, but end up making use of my extra energy by doing things that are a bit more constructive! 

I am gonna rock this second challenge because I now have a system that is working for "me".  I absolutely love my vi shakes, they are a real "treat" for me to get to have.  I wake up each morning and have my cup of coffee (with honey & half and half), sometimes I have two cups.  Then, I make my morning shake...it usually consists of 8oz skim milk, 2 scoops vi mix, handful of spinach, 1/2 cup frozen bluberries, and 2 Tbs ground flax.  This is so yummy!  I sip that as I run around getting kids and husband off to work, or as I drive to gym.  I immediately start on my water.  I flavor them with raspberry neuros for the gym or an occassional Crystal Light packet, I am using a 32oz rubbermaid container (helps me measure my intake).  I usually have one container down before I even think about a snack, I eat big snacks that are around 200-300 calories, you can see some of them HERE!!!   I refill my water, and usually eat something when the kids have their lunch. My lunch is usually a salad with leftovers, grilled veggies, or turkey/cheese rollups. Sometimes I have breakfast food, cuz I love eggs! I have another shake around 2pm.  This shake is usually just the cake mix flavored regular one, i still just love it plain, it gets me through the afterschool routine and energy to cook dinner for everyone, I am usually not even hungry for dinner, but at least it makes me cook healthier, no big cravings to change my menu plans! lol!  Anyways, somedays I don't get my afternoon shake because we have dinner early or lunch late, whatever, then I just have my 2nd shake as a dessert with dark cocoa powder and mix ins from Kassi's Recipe FB Page!  I try to get 3-32oz containers of water down...it's getting easier and I feel full all the time too!

So, you see...I do not miss a meal, I am just happy that my mind is on something other than FOOD!!  I am busy being healthy, getting stuff done, and being involved with the best company ever!  It feels so good to hear how great a friend or family member is feeling, their health is so important!  If I stopped losing weight on Visalus, I would continue my shakes just for the healhty way it makes me feel, the weight loss is just a mega bonus for me!!  I'm getting ready to start this next challenge, so come one and join it with me!  Contact me for a free sample...100% money back guarantee, what do you have to lose, but inches!

Weekly Grocery Shopping 4 Less

I had this weeks menu planned and had Wal-Mart on my errand list to get everything I needed in one place..you know...the way Wal-Mart always sucks me in!  My gym is very close to our local Aldi's store so I glanced at my list and decided that most of what I needed could be gotten there, maybe I'd save a buck or two, why not?!? 

I strolled through, getting what was on my list (mostly dairy and produce) along with a few extras.  I even picked up a spiral cut ham in place of smoked ham for sandwiches.  My cart was overflowing, I always spend $100 on a weeks worth of groceries, but guess what?  I only spent $66.70 and since I even bought a whole ham and extras.....WOW!!!  I guess the pennies really do add up, back to shopping different stores for different deals!  I will not have to go to a store for an entire week, so I am thrilled! 

GO ALDI'S!!!!

Veggie Beef Soup

THIS is one of my all time favorite meals from growing up!  Mom would make this soup on a cool autumn day, or when we were sick.  So, this is what's for dinner at my house tonight, because we all have our first colds of the year.  This recipe is simple, and very inexpensive.

Beef stew meat, cut into 1" chunks. (I buy roasts in bulk and use the ends for soups)
Beef stock (optional, the meat cooking creates juice and flavor) or water
Onion soup packet (also optional, I rately use this...it has enough flavor without)
1-2 cans each of:  corn, green beans, carrots, stewed tomatoes with juice, peas, and any veggie or bean you love. You can even add small pasta if you wish.
Potatoes diced

I cut my beef roast into chunks, heat a crock on high with 1 Tbs. vegetable oil, sear the meat for a couple minutes, add beef broth or water, tomatoes with juice, potatoes,and seasoning if desired.  Simmer for 20 minututes, then add all the other canned veggies!  Heat well...  DONE!!  Easy and "oh so yummy" !!!!

Snacks under 200 calories!!!!

Since I started a 90 day "get healthy" challenge with Body by Vi, I have my shake for breakfast and lunch, but healthy snacks are needed and super important!  I found these yummy snacks on the Dr.Oz show and am so excited to share them! While they may not save you money, they will certainly save you some calories...that's important too!  are all 200 calories or less!  They are also put together with their health benefits in mind!  These snacks keep me from feeling deprived or hungry....so yummy!

Antipasto Power Plate
This easy-to-assemble snack packs a protein punch with the proscuitto, and there's plenty of fiber in the chickpeas and zucchini.

Ingredients
1 thin slice prosciutto or thin sliced ham
One 2% mozzarella string cheese
2 olives
1 cup grilled zucchini/squash
1/4 cup chickpeas (feel free to season with herbs..yum!)

Directions
Wrap the prosciutto around the string cheese. Enjoy with the olives and veggies on the side.

Mini Pizza Pocket
The vegetables bulk this snack up, without adding any extra fat. The lycopene in the tomato sauce is fat soluble, so the cheese helps with the absorption of this nutrient.

Ingredients
1 mini 100% whole wheat pita pocket or wheat sandwich thin
1 oz of 2% reduced fat mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp pasta sauce
1 cup spinach
2 onion slices plus any additional veggies
Directions
Assemble and place in toaster oven until cheese is melted.

Skinny Dip & Chips
The black pepper and hot sauce kick your metabolism up a notch. The Greek yogurt and walnuts are full of protein that'll help you stay fuller for longer.

Ingredients
For the dip:
1/2 cup of 2% Greek yogurt
1 tsp walnuts
Garlic
Black pepper
1 tsp hot sauce

What to dip:
1/2 oz blue potato chips (8 chips)
1 cup cherry tomatoes or favorite vegetable

Directions
Mix all dip components. Enjoy the dip with 8 blue potato chips and the cherry tomatoes

Cheesy Apple Sandwich
The apples are full of water and keep you feeling full, while the lemon juice regulates your metabolism and regulates your body's sugar absorption.

Ingredients
4 apple slices (these act as the "bread")
3 tbsp low-fat ricotta cheese (sometimes I use almond butter)
10 almonds
Lemon juice

Directions
Core apple and slice in thick pieces. Spread cheese and almonds on top of the apple slices. Sprinkle with lemon juice.

Peanut Butter & Banana Quesadilla

Ingredients
whole wheat tortilla
1 Tbs peanut butter
banana
cinnamon
Directions:  Spread pb on tortilla, top with sliced banana, sprinkle with cinnamon...you can even grill if you want it warm...so satisfying and delicious!! 

No Bake Truffles

Ingredients
5 dry dates
11 dry apricots
1/3 cup cacoa powder
1/2 Tbs. vanilla
1 Tbs. vanilla
1 Tbs. agave or honey
pinch salt
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Directions:  place in food processor, pulse, form into small 1 inch balls, then roll in chopped nuts or additional cocoa powder...you have a yummy chocolate snack!

Pizza Popcorn
This will make 8 cups of popcorn for only 200 calories.

3 Tbsp of un-popped kernels
1 Tbsp of grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp of garlic powder
1 tsp of paprika
1 tsp of oregano
1 tsp of salt
1tsp of chives

Directions:  place in small brown paper lunch sack, fold opening over twice to close, microwave for 2-3 minutes on high, listen for the popping to slow down!  YUM, cheap, easy!!!!

My FAVES were the antipasto plate, apples with ricotta, and the pb banana quesadilla!!!!

WhoNu? Now, I do!!!

I have seen the commercials for WhoNu? Cookies...I didn't pay much attention, because I figured that if we are going to have a special snack or dessert...may as well forget nutrition...but, when I saw these on sale yesterday, we picked some up.  Suprisingly, they were just as delicious if not more so, then an actual Oreo cookie! They were $2.50 for a package, comparable to Oreos.  They are in a sealed package inside of a reclosable box.  The inner package has a tear off stip that seals back with a sticky strip to keep cookies fresh.

3 cookies claim to have:

As much Fiber as a bowl of oatmeal
As much Calcium & Vitamin D as an 8oz glass of milk
As much Vitamin C as a cup of blueberries
As much Iron as a cup of spinach
As much Vitamin E as 2 cups of carrot juice
As much Vitamin B12 as a cup of cottage cheese with fruit
As much Vitamin A as 8oz glass of tomato juice


As you can see, this cookie is enhanced with
vitamins and minerals, but is in no way a low-calorie
food.  Nor should it be considered a "diet" food.
It is however, healhtier than regular packaged cookies,
therefore, I WILL purchase these again, the next time
I want to treat the kids to a special treat!



Healthcare Coverages YOU may not know about!

I am blogging about this again, because I feel like many people may not realize that under the "Affordable Care Act" there are preventative services that your health insurance company HAS to pay at 100%!!  No copay or deductible required! 

Some of these services include:  immunizations, weight loss counseling, well-woman screenings, tobacco sesation, children's eye exams, and sooo many others!

Check out the link to see all benefits, then make your appointments, no longer put them off because of the out-of-pocket expenses!

Preventative Services Covered under the Affordable Care Act

Snowflake decor

After Christmas, my house looks bare...no tree, no garland, no colorful decorations...empty feeling.  I immediately decorate with snowflakes for the rest of winter.  I tape paper snowflakes that the kids have made on my front windows.  I love to see their creative works!  We cut snowflakes out of coffee filters, cupcake wrappers, and paper doilies.  They were all beautiful!  Ours are decorated with blue and silver glitter!  Some of the doilies were so pretty that we just left them uncut.

In my FamilyFun Magazine, I saw a wonderful idea for my fireplace mantle...plastic bottle snowmen, paper trees, and shiny silver garland...I am crafting this...