Weight Loss — Page 4

Why I Will Never Be in the Olympics

The Olympics Closing Ceremony Rocked… Did you see the Spice Girls?? Total blast from my much-cherished past high school days. {I don’t care what you say. I loved ’em, and still do…} And, the athletes over the past week that I’ve been watching have been mind blowing – I’ve loved the gymnastics routines since I was a little girl, totally amazes me every single time. The synchronized swimming at the Olympics seriously is beautiful. It’s all so impressive… As I sit on my couch, with snacks, watching these athletes rock it out. But my out of shape mom bod is not the only thing stopping me from becoming an athlete…

someecards.com - I could never be an Olympic sprinter because I couldn't go 10 seconds without checking my phone.

Anyone else have this problem?

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 12, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | No Comments

5 Great Tips to Steal from the Greek Lifestyle…

Healthy Living, the Greek way… You’ve probably heard the term “Opa!” – a popular Greek term used to express excitement and cheer, right? Greeks are super smart about finding creative ways to celebrate their heritage, food, and family every day. They seek balance in their daily lives by participating in outdoor activities and relying on a healthy diet of olive oil, grains, vegetables, fish and dairy. Clearly, this is a lifestyle worth borrowing a few tips from.

Healthy Living Tips inspired by Greek Living – from Chelsie Hightower

Get some great ideas for healthy living from the amazing Chelsie Hightower, from Dancing With the Stars. These 5 tips will have you living like a Greek in no time – and can help you be happier, healthier, and full of “Opa!” too…

Take your workouts outside. While a walk around your neighborhood might seem less exciting than a hike around Greek ruins, try to find something in your local outdoors that motivates and excites you. Explore a local park or a new neighborhood route to change up your fitness routine.
Make healthy meal choices. I try to stick to a Mediterranean influenced diet that is rich in olive oil, vegetables, fruit, fish and dairy. I enjoy finding recipes online and then trying them at home. Old London has some great recipes on their Facebook page.
Go dancing. In Greece, dancing is a large part of any celebration or gathering. I love going dancing with friends; not only do we have a great time but I also get a workout!
Healthy Living = Happiness. You don’t have to wait for a special occasion to plan a gettogether. Invite friends and family over just because! Ask guests to bring a dish, or set out appetizers like olives, cheese and Old London Melba Toast for everyone to enjoy. I’ve found being happy is a big step to staying healthy.
Love yourself. People come in all shapes and sizes, and what works on others won’t necessary work for you. Being healthy is about how you feel. Stop comparing yourself to others and begin loving the person you are from head to toe.

Celebrity dancer Chelsie Hightower has teamed up with some awesome nutrition and culinary experts, and partnered with Old London this summer – to help you incorporate the spirit of Greek culture into your life with easy-to-manage health tips like these, and super yummy recipes to support an overall healthy lifestyle for you and your family. I LOVE these ideas, and am already using them in my own life…

How I bring Greek Living to my Summer entertaining

Have you ever tried Old London snacks? They’ve got some really great options that are perfect for summer entertaining, like the ones I used at last weekend’s BBQ – Melba Sea Salt Whole Grain {perfect fit with my Nutrisystem diet}, Melba Toast in Rosemary & Olive Oil {perfectly crunchy}, and Garlic & Herb Bagel Chips {all natural, no trans fat. Awesome.} These paired up pretty much perfectly with my favorite Super Simple Spinach Party Dip. Here’s the quick steps to put it together:

1 {10 oz} package of frozen chopped spinach
1 package Veggie recipe soup mix
1 cup mayonnaise
1 (16 oz) container sour cream
3 chopped green onions

Directions for Super Simple Spinach Party Dip: Put frozen spinach into a strainer to thaw out. Once thawed, squeeze out any extra water, and get the spinach as dry as possible so your dip doesn’t get too runny. Combine all of the ingredients into a big bowl, stir to mix, then refrigerate for a couple of hours to let the flavors blend together. Serve with bread, crackers – or my personal fave, Old London chips and crisps!

Old London is sending one lucky winner and a guest on an all-expense paid trip to the Greek Islands!

One lucky Old London fan is going to get a first-hand experience of the local culture, food and activities that help the Greek stay so healthy and happy. “Say Opa! to a better you by
maintaining a healthy, balanced diet and participating in physical activities you love while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Greek Islands!” – Visit Facebook.com/OldLondonFoods to get tips on living a healthy lifestyle and your chance to
win. I cannot even imagine how amazing this trip would be… Grand Prize: 8-day/7-night trip for two to Greece. Prize includes the following: Round trip (coach class) air transportation from a major airport nearest the winner’s home address. Seven nights (double occupancy) first class hotel accommodations in Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. $2,000 gift card for spending money. {Approximate retail value $9,500. Grand Prize winner may select a cash option of $5,000 in lieu of the travel prize. But who would pass up a trip to Greece, right??} So what are you waiting for? Head on over to their Facebook page today, check out more delicious recipes to help you life like a Greek – then enter to WIN a chance to REALLY live like a Greek on this sweet getaway adventure.

What do YOU think??

Do you plan to try “Living Greek” – using Chelsie Hightowers healthy living tips inspired by the Greek lifestyle, or trying some of the super yummy recipes on the Old London Facebook page? Are you from a Greek family, and have some additional fun tips to share with us? I love hearing from you guys – so don’t be shy, comment away!

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Old London. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. Photo Credit for first photo.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 12, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

Simple Tricks to Sneak Exercise into Your Daily Routine

Most of you know that I’ve been on a Momma Makeover Mission this year. I’ve made a lot of improvements, but still have a long way to go to hit all of my goals. Nutrisystem has been helping me lose some of that old baby weight {toddler weight? She’s no baby anymore…} – and seeing the number on the scale drop a bit has helped motivate me to get more active. I’ve never been the type to do an actual “work out,” and I’ve never been to the gym. But, I am big on multi-tasking, and on finding Smart Solutions for my busy mom challenges. Keep reading to learn my tips for sneaking more exercise into your busy day…

From Workout to Out and About…

I used to dress cute. Seriously, I did. But after switching from working in fashion merchandising to working at home, I started dressing more casually. Add in the stress of keeping up with housework all day, and a crazy wild toddler – and I’m lucky to have a clean shirt on some days. That was part of why I started my Momma Makeover Mission – to snap out of that frump-mom slump. I love these new pieces from Russell Athletics – they’re uber comfy, have a great Dri-Power moisture wicking technology that keeps you cool even when the temperature is sky high, and can easily be jazzed up a little to head out of the house to run errands. Love it! Shown above are my Dry-Power 360 Round-Neck Tee in Shockwave Green – {awesome color for summer!} – and my new Semi-Fit Performance Capri. Totally cute, right? The pants even have this sweet little zippered pocket along the back waistband, where you could add a bit of cash, keys, and lip gloss when you head out for a walk or day at the park. They’re comfy enough for my daily exercise – but with a cute bag, scarf, and sandals, it’s cute enough for going out, too.

How to Sneak Exercise into Your Daily Routine

You just won’t add any extra exercise into your day unless you’re wearing clothing that moves. Plus – if you have kids, you’re doing a ton of running – {do NOT dig in the houseplants with your new Dora shovel!}, lifting – {yes, of course I’ll pick you up for the 111th time so that you can yell that you want down}, and squats – {who else loves picking up Legos?}. Your clothes need to be ready to move with you – and you’ll find so many great women’s workout gear options at Russell Athletic. Now that you know where to get the gear, let me share my tips and tricks:

Morning Dishes: Squat while you load the dishwasher. Yes, you look funny. But the kids need a good giggle in the a.m. anyway.
Vacuuming: I do this daily. One, because I have a toddler, so I must watch my floors like a hawk, always looking for danger – coins, tiny heads ripped from action figures, and gross things the dog drags in. Two, because it’s SUPER great exercise. Turn on some tunes, and vacuum FAST. Do lunges while you go. You will totally feel the burn in your glutes and your arms.
Laundry: Lift each basket filled with perfectly folded laundry over your head in reps of 10. Yeeeaaaahhhh – pretend that you’re Arnold Schwarzenegger, so amazingly strong.
Dinner time: I do all kinds of exercises while I cook. Waiting for veggies to steam? Arm circles. {My nephew caught me doing this once, and asked if I was trying to fly. He still wonders about it…} If I have to grab the step ladder to get a specialty pot – I do a quick step workout, up-down, up-down. You can do leg lifts, squats, even run laps around the kitchen island. Whatever works for ya.

See how easy it is? Once you’ve got some super smart workout clothes that have innovative technology to keep you cool – and that are cute enough to wear out and about when you run errands too – you’ll be ready to start adding tons of sneaky new exercise into your daily routines. You’ll be squatting while brushing your teeth, washing your windows with big arm circles – Karate Kid style. And soon enough, you’ll find new muscles in those arms, and be surprised by pants that have grown too big! {When they do, stop by Russell Athletics online to pick up a new pair – scroll to the bottom to sign up for special savings offers. You will not be disappointed!

How do YOU sneak exercise into YOUr daily routine? Share in the comments!

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Russell Athletics and received a product sample to facilitate my review.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 31, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 2 Comments

Weight Loss Simplified

Weight Loss Simplified: Another week, another pound lost – yeah bay-bee! It’s been amazing how simple it is to lose weight on Nutrisystem, since I had absolutely no luck at all on my own. And next week is another big week: I’m taking new measurements, to see if I’ve lost as many inches all around as I did last time. {Fingers crossed!} I know that after following the Nutrisystem diet for almost 3 months now, I’m finally able to fit into my old pre-baby jeans again – so it’s definitely working! But – since I’m getting closer to the end of my 4-month program, I’m starting to educate myself even more on some smart habits to maintain this exciting weight loss on my own.

Source: healthyisclassy.tumblr.com via Sunshine and on Pinterest

Weight loss doesn’t have to be complicated

I think that the main reason Nutrisystem worked so well for me is because it’s so easy to use. Each month they ship me all of my meals – prepacked into perfect portion sizes, with just the right balance of nutrition and protein. They give me a great log book to help me track everything that I eat, so I know how to keep my metabolism running on high. Everything is just so grab and go, and a total no brainer. How could you NOT lose, right? They even provide options like brownies, burgers, and mashed potatoes. Mmmm – and have you checked out the recipe for Turkey Burger with Onion-Apple Relish? SO GOOD!

What I’ve learned on Nutrisystem so far:

When I first started this program, the portion sizes were a shock! I had NO idea that I was eating such oversize amounts. I ate healthy foods – just WAY too much of them. But now I’m so used to seeing the “right” sized portions that I’ll be able to better judge how much to dish up on my own. I’ve also realized how much better I feel when switching out the white rice, bread, and other simple carbs for the whole grain versions. I honestly like the taste of the healthier grains, and notice I’m a lot less puffy then I used to be. Eating so much more veggies has also really helped me feel better – Cleaner. Fresher. It’s like I have a personal chef – my meals are pretty much ready to go every night when I am, I just have to take a minute and heat them up. Sweet.

WANT TO GET YOUR PRE-BABY BOOTY BACK TOO?

Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting Nutrisystem.com. It’s simple to get started, the foods are actually really good, with loads of variety. Heck – you even get to have chocolate cake or ice cream each night for dessert, how great is that? Get started today – it’s the best choice you’ll make this year!

READ MORE ABOUT MY NUTRISYSTEM WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY, AND FOLLOW MY WEIGHT LOSS BOARD ON PINTEREST TOO!

{Disclaimer: I’m receiving a complimentary membership and access to all Nutrisystem products and services, to review here for you. All opinions and results here are 100% my own personal experience – and may vary for others.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 30, 2012 Filed Under: Nutrisystem | No Comments

The Secret to Wearing a Swimsuit After Having a Baby

So, for a couple of months now I’ve been updating you each week on my Nutrisystem journey. And if you’ve been following along since the very beginning, you might remember my goal that I started with – to fit into my very favorite pair of pre-baby skinny jeans. And, drum roll please…… Last Sunday I put them on and they FIT!!!!! This was seriously an exciting moment for me. I mean, I knew I’d lost some weight. And I’ve just started to get regular comments from people mentioning that I look like I’d lost weight. And my total weight loss is now at 17 pounds. {Can I get a heck yeah??} But I honestly am surprised by how much my body shape has changed – and could NOT be more excited!!

Pool Party by megsp22 featuring a string bikini

“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” – Sam Keen

I love summer. And I love it even more this year, because I’m super excited to rock my new swimsuit and not have to hide behind a towel every time we have company over. We have a big deck and patio that surrounds an in-ground pool – which means we entertain a lot during the summer months. And last year I missed out on a lot of fun, since I was too embarrassed to be seen very often in my swimsuit. But not this year – this year I am ready bay-bee! I’m continuing with the Nutrisystem diet for about a month and a half more, and hope to have gotten pretty darn close to my goal of losing 40 pounds by then. Pretty awesome, right?

WANT TO GET YOUR PRE-BABY BOOTY BACK TOO?

READ MORE ABOUT MY NUTRISYSTEM WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY, AND FOLLOW MY WEIGHT LOSS BOARD ON PINTEREST TOO!

{Disclaimer: I’m receiving a complimentary membership and access to all Nutrisystem products and services, to review here for you. All photos, opinions, and results here are 100% my own personal experience – and may vary for others.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 25, 2012 Filed Under: Nutrisystem | 1 Comment

Turkey Burger with Onion-Apple Relish

With the Nutrisystem diet, I’m super excited for summer. I’m excited to finally wear a bikini again and rock my Mom-garita look, I’m excited to actually be able to jump in and have fun during our pool parties instead of hiding behind a big towel, and I’m super excited to have found some awesome recipes for summer BBQ’s featuring my fave Nutrisystem foods. When you’re a Nutrisystem member, you get access to a ton of cool online tools – including a super sweet recipe section. I found a Refreshing Summer Poke Cake, made with Nutrisystem Golden Pound Cake and strawberries, some super yummy sweet potato fries, and this one which is my favorite – Turkey Burger with Onion-Apple Relish. Mmmmm – Super excited to try it this weekend.

Turkey Burger with Onion-Apple Relish

Ingredients

Calorie-free pan spray, as needed
4, 4 oz. turkey burgers, extra lean variety
1 medium onion
1 medium red bell pepper, julienne slices
1 medium apple, peeled, cut into quarters
1 Tbsp. apple sauce (unsweetened)
1/4 tsp. cumin, ground
1/4 tsp. black pepper, as desired
Lettuce, as desired
Tomatoes, sliced
4 each burger buns, whole grain

Instructions

1. Heat grill or broiler.
2. Spray onions, peppers and apples with pan spray, place on grill or under a broiler and cook until all pieces are slightly charred and beginning to soften.
3. Cool vegetables and apples slightly, then mince all grilled items and place in a small bowl.
4. Add apple sauce, cumin and pepper to bowl and toss to blend. Allow to stand covered while you prepare your burgers.
5. Prepare turkey burgers on grill or under broiler. Place burgers on a bun and spread a portion of the onion-apple relish over each burger. Top with tomato slices and lettuce if desired.
Variations and Serving Suggestions:
Substitute extra-lean ground beef for the turkey burgers, or use the Nutrisystem® Flame Broiled Beef Patty or Nutrisystem® Grilled Chicken Breast, then top with relish. Yields 4 servings.

https://sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/05/turkey-burger-with-onion-apple-relish/

I Heart Nutrisystem!

There are so many things to love about Nutrisystem, and these awesome member-submitted recipes are so incredibly helpful. Each month I get a huge shipment filled with all of my favorites – but even with all of that variety, sometimes you do crave “new” foods. Having access to these awesome recipes in my Nutrisystem account make is so easy to use my prepackaged foods to make super fun summer recipes.

Results for This Week

Ok, I have a confession. This week I didn’t lose any weight. Super bummed about that. BUT – I had two big parties for friends, plus a Mother’s Day brunch and dinner party. I’m learning to make better choices when I can’t eat my balanced Nutrisystem meals, but I did splurge a little this week. Luckily, I’ve been adding more exercise by going on daily walks with Abby, and followed the plan perfectly when I was eating at home – which prevented me from GAINING weight. So for that I’m grateful. And this week I’m just working twice as hard at losing a pound or two!

WANT TO GET YOUR PRE-BABY BODY BACK TOO?

READ MORE ABOUT MY NUTRISYSTEM WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY, AND FOLLOW MY WEIGHT LOSS BOARD ON PINTEREST TOO!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 17, 2012 Filed Under: Nutrisystem | 1 Comment

Who’s Ready for Mom-garita Time?

That’s what I call this look I put together – the “Mom-garita.” It’s a breezy, relaxed look for summer…. Featuring a BIKINI. Yep, I’m serious. With the Nutrisystem diet this year, I’ve lost 15 pounds already, and plan to lose at least another 10 before we open our pool in mid-June. And – with the amazing support I get from the Nutrisystem team, I know I’ll be able to do it. Last year I missed a ton of pool-time fun because I was too embarrassed to show this post-baby body. But this year I’m actually excited to see myself in a swimsuit again. Good times.

How I’m Getting Bikini Ready:

There’s never just ONE change that you make to lose weight. It’s a combination of dietary changes, portion control, exercise, and mindset. I love that Nutrisystem combines all of those into one plan, making it a heck of a lot easier for me to stay on track. Here’s what I’m doing:

Following the Nutrisystem diet. I’m loving it. Especially that I get to have daily dessert! You can read my updates from the last couple of months to see my weight-loss progress so far.
Getting active. I am NOT a sporty person. At all. But, walking I can handle. So I recently started going for a 30 minute daily walk with Abby. I tell ya – pushing that stroller up the hills in our neighborhood is one heck of a workout! {Want some motivation to get active too? Learn my 5 gym bag essentials.}
Drinking more water. This is part of the Nutrisystem diet, and I even track how many bottles I drink each day in my daily log. I don’t like pop, so this wasn’t a big change. But I’ve been switching most of my other beverages – like milk and juice – to water instead. That’s a HUGE amount of calories saved.
Stay motivated and energized. I use the discussion boards A LOT on my personal Nutrisystem page, to get tips from people who are rockin’ the system, and just learn from other moms like me trying to lose the baby weight. I also made myself a big Dream Board type thing for the fridge door – it has my pre-baby “skinny pics” on it, and a bunch of great weight loss quotes.

I am uber duber excited for this summer – I mean, I always look forward to sunshine, BBQ’s, and good times. But I seriously cannot wait to reach my weight loss goals, and finally, FINALLY, be able to rock some great fashions again. It’s been a few years now….