How to STOP Sabotaging Your Diet

Christmas is over and if you are like me…. you have eaten so much over the last few days (okay so maybe it has been the last few weeks).  Now there are leftovers to deal with and the last push to enjoy all those treats before we hit the New Year’s resolutions.  Doesn’t everyone’s resolution include eating healthy or hitting the gym?  Yes, I squirreled.

I have been struggling for several months to maintain my goal weight or even stay within the 2 pound range given by Weight Watchers when I stumbled on this article.  Now I have been told these misconceptions many times, reading them again always is a good reminder…

“Skipping breakfast is harmless and a smart way to cut calories.”

I am definitely a breakfast skipper!  I am usually up early and always say “it’s too early to eat”  or “I’m not hungry.”  It is time to re-train my brain.    Studies show people who eat a smart breakfast daily are less likely to become obese. Your body functions more effectively when it’s well fueled, so you’ll actually burn more calories throughout the day if you feed it in the morning. Plus, you’re more likely to make poor food decisions if you let yourself get too hungry. So start your day with a light healthy breakfast.  Not hungry first thing in the a.m.?  Why not keep a piece of fruit and protein bar handy for a mid-morning meal.

“Eating gluten-free/vegan/insert-buzzword-here foods will help with weight loss.”

No hate mail, please.  I know there are some who need to eat gluten free or vegan for health reason.  I do gluten free to help manage MS symptoms BUT there are some who thing it will help with their weight loss. The simple fact is eating like this does not guarantee weight loss. They can be loaded with calories and fat. Gluten-free foods are sometimes just as carby as their gluten-containing counterparts, and vegan goods may be full of fatty calories. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with sticking to foods which work for your personal needs and lifestyle, but some choices are better than others. That’s why it’s so important to check the nutritional info before you order or buy. Pay special attention to calories, serving size, and servings per container!

“On workout days, I can let loose and indulge at meal time, and it’ll all balance out.”

Even if your spin class promises to burn 800 calories, don’t treat yourself to fettuccine Alfredo and cheesecake just yet. It’s common to overestimate the number of calories we’ve burned — everyone burns calories at a different rate — and you could unintentionally negate your hard work. Even if your estimates are spot on, do you really want to cancel them out entirely? If you’re aiming for weight loss, you still need to take in fewer calories than you burn. Either way, you’re better off just increasing your portion sizes to replenish yourself, not reaching for junk food or totally overdoing it. Check out these ideas for what to eat before and after a workout.

“As long as I stick to a clean diet of all-natural whole foods, I don’t need to worry about calories.”

If weight management is a priority for you, then yeah, you’re going to want to keep tabs on your calorie intake. YES, eating whole natural foods is good for you. But it’s completely possible to consume way more calories than you burn in a day by eating these foods. Plenty of natural foods are calorie dense — think avocados, nuts, grains — meaning a small portion has a large calorie count. Eat too much of those, and you could pack on the pounds.  Believe it or not, the same thing can happen with fruits which are packed full of natural sugar.  So eat the good stuff, but watch the portions.

“I’ll order a salad for dinner to save calories for dessert.”

No judgement call here – I’ve done this. Although, it may seem like a smart choice, restaurant salads often pack WAY more calories than you think. So if you’re blindly assuming the giant Cobb salad is a better option than a lean petite filet and a side of veggies, you might want to spend some time checking out the restaurant’s nutritional facts.  The salad dressing alone often contains hundreds of calories! And when it comes to dessert, treat yourself… but split one with your dining companions. Studies have found we enjoy the last bite the most anyway!

What is your best weight loss tip?  Share them with us as we get ready for the New Year…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Tasty Tuesday: Wicked Good Chicken Burgers

Today’s recipe is courtesy of Wicked Good Spice Mixes.  I met these amazing ladies at the Brick Farmer’s Market.  I found them last year BUT I have been using the heck out of their products this year.  I hit them every Saturday to make sure I have enough of the Peach and Wild Berry Infused Balsamic Vinegars.  I was a total salad dressing girl until I started using these with their organic olive oil.  Now, I’m hooked.  So check out these recipe….

Ingredients:

2 lbs of Lean Ground Chicken Breast or Ground Turkey

1 small jalapeno peppers , seeds removed, diced

5 cloves of garlic, finely diced

2 medium onions diced

1 10oz package of frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed to remove moisture

 3 tablespoons of Achilles Heel Mediterranean  Blend

1 tablespoon of Garlic Explosion ( More if you love garlic as much as I do!)

1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

2 tablespoons of olive oil

Directions:

• In a large skillet, heat olive oil and saute garlic and onions until caramelized and soft.
• In a large bowl, mix chicken breast, jalapeno peppers, salt and pepper,garlic and onion mixture and Achilles heel Blend and Garlic explosion blend and spinach
• Form mixture into 8 large burgers or 12 smaller burgers.
• Heat a griddle pan and cook burgers  for about 4 minutes and turn.  Burgers should be nicely browned and check to make sure they reach an internal temperature of 170 degrees.

Serve with roasted veggies or salad and ENJOY!

Want to know more about Wicked Good Spice Mix Co?  Here is what they have to say on their website:  The main reason we started this company was to show people how easy, healthy and fun it can be to make a delicious meal at home!  I always think the hardest thing about cooking is how much of this spice and how much of that spice you should add.

So go ahead and throw all of those spices you use infrequently and start using our spice blends! They are fresh and economical!  Our blends are perfectly formulated to use for just about everything you like to cook.  Recently we have added fruit infused balsamic vinegars and olive oils to our collection.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Tasty Tuesday: Southwest Chicken Kale Salad

Thank you Hungry Girl for another AMAZING recipe.  I never get tired of salad!

This is a refreshing compliment to summer’s hot dogs, hamburgers, and other BBQ fare.  This zesty recipe makes two huge and satisfying meals… but it can also double as a multi-serving side dish!

1/2 of recipe (about 7 cups): 307 calories, 3g total fat (0.5g sat fat), 827mg sodium, 39g carbs, 9g fiber, 12.5g sugars, 34.5g protein — PointsPlus® value 7* — SmartPoints® value 4*  MAKES 2 SERVINGS

Prep: 15 minutes     Chill: 1 – 2 hours

Ingredients:

Salad
8 cups chopped kale leaves
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped red or yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup seeded and chopped fresh jalapeño peppers
6 oz. cooked and chopped skinless chicken breast

Dressing
1/4 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
2 tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 tsp. taco seasoning mix

Directions:

• Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well.
• In a medium bowl, whisk dressing ingredients until uniform. Add dressing to salad, and toss to coat.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1 – 2 hours, to allow flavors to develop.

Whether you are taking your salad to work for lunch or eating it outside on your porch, the perfect thermal to keep your drinks cold is Thirty One’s Bring a Bottle Thermal.

Celebrate Thirty-One’s 15th anniversary year with this Customer-favorite bring-back style! Use this handy single-bottle thermal for school, work and travel. Our insulated drawstring cooler pouch keeps up to a 20-oz. bottle of water, milk or other drinks cold on the go. Includes a carabiner to clip on your gym bag, diaper bag, bike, golf bag or sports bag.

It will even hold a 750ml bottle of wine.

 

 

 

 

Add a strap from the Studio by Thirty One collection to make it hands free carrying when you are walking.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Tasty Tuesday: Cranberry Tuna Slaw

I’m a total salad girl!  I eat some variation of a salad every day for either lunch or dinner and sometimes BOTH!  I love finding new options to make.  Check out this one from Hungry Girl!

1/4th of recipe (about 1 1/3 cups): 118 calories, 2g total fat (<0.5g sat fat), 270mg sodium, 16.5g carbs, 3.5g fiber, 9.5g sugars, 8.5g protein, Freestyle™ SmartPoints® value 3*

Prep: 5 minutes     Chill: 15 minutes    MAKES 4 SERVING

Ingredients:

4 cups broccoli cole slaw (about one 10-oz. container or one 12-oz. bag)
1/2 cup canned water chestnuts, drained and roughly chopped
1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries, chopped
1/4 cup light sesame ginger dressing (like Newman’s Own Sesame Ginger Dressing)
One 5-oz. can albacore tuna packed in water
1/4 cup chopped scallions
2 tsp. sesame seeds

Directions:

1. Place slaw, chopped water chestnuts, and chopped cranberries in a large bowl. Add dressing, and stir to coat.
2. Drain tuna, add to the bowl, and stir to mix. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 15 minutes.
3. Serve topped with scallions and sesame seeds.

NOTE;  Double the recipe and it is a great salad for an upcoming picnic.

There is no better way to carry your salad (for lunch or a picnic) then in a Thirty One thermal.  So many options to pick from….

Check out the options for lunch, each one will meet a different need depending on what you carry for lunch…

      SHHH!!! I have a secret.  Thirty One’s lunch tote thermals will be on SALE in July.  Stay tuned for more details.

Headed to a picnic or the farmer’s market, check out this thermal…..

Need help pick out the thermal best for you, message me and I will be glad to answer any questions.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Tasty Tuesday: Blackened Shrimp & Corn Salad

This YUMMY recipe is from Weight Watchers.  A great salad with a Freestyle™ SmartPoints® value 0*

1/8th of recipe (about 1 cup): 141 calories, 1.5g total fat (<0.5g sat fat), 404mg sodium, 20.5g carbs, 2.5g fiber, 6.5g sugars, 13g protein

Prep: 20 minutes     Cook: 10 minutes     Makes: 8 SERVINGS

Ingredients:

4 cups frozen sweet corn kernels
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
2 cups chopped tomatoes
12 oz. ready-to-eat bay/small shrimp (or chopped large shrimp)
1 cup finely chopped red onion
1 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup seeded and finely chopped jalapeño pepper
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tbsp. chopped garlic
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Directions:

1. Bring a large skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat. Add corn, chili powder, and 1/2 tsp. cumin. Cook and stir until blackened, about 7 minutes.
2. In a medium-large bowl, combine all remaining ingredients, including remaining 1/2 tsp. cumin. Mix until uniform.
3. Fold in blackened corn. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. (It tastes great chilled!)

Have leftovers?  Why not take it for lunch this week?  Use a base of spring mix or spinach, topped with this yummy blackened shrimp and corn salad.  No better way to take lunch to work but in a Thirty One Thermal.  Did you know ThirtyOne had a NEW Crossbody Thermal Tote?

One of our most popular personal lunch thermals is now a crossbody! Stay on-trend at the office or school with our fashionable and functional Crossbody Thermal Tote cooler bag. Webbed handles plus a long, adjustable strap give you three ways to carry your snacks and drinks in style. Or give it as the perfect teacher’s gift! Choose personalization to make it even more special. AND a steal at just $20

Have a recipe you want to share?  Send me an email and if we use if in the blog, you will receive a FREE gift as a thank you.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!