Tobler Family Challenge
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Chicken Fajitas
This is such an easy recipe and good for you! I'm making this for dinner tonight, so I thought I would share it!
4 to 6 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or you can use 10-12 chicken tenders)
2 1/2 cups chunky salsa
1 green pepper-thinly sliced
1 red pepper-thinly sliced
1 large onion-thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped onion
Soft flour tortillas or you can use pita pockets
Place all ingredients (except tortillas) in a greased 4 to 6 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low heat for 10-12 hours. Just before serving, remove chicken from fajita mixtures and shred it using two forks. Next, put shredded chicken back into mixture and stir. Place about two rounded tablespoons of the chicken mixture in each tortilla or pita pocket and top with desired condiments. Fold tortilla and roll. Makes 8-10 servings.
Spencer and I use whole-wheat tortillas and put a little low-fat sour cream and cheese on top. So GOOD!! And you have plenty leftovers for lunches or dinner. I took this to lunch at work one day and got lots of compliments on how good it smelled and looked! :)
4 to 6 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or you can use 10-12 chicken tenders)
2 1/2 cups chunky salsa
1 green pepper-thinly sliced
1 red pepper-thinly sliced
1 large onion-thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped onion
Soft flour tortillas or you can use pita pockets
Place all ingredients (except tortillas) in a greased 4 to 6 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low heat for 10-12 hours. Just before serving, remove chicken from fajita mixtures and shred it using two forks. Next, put shredded chicken back into mixture and stir. Place about two rounded tablespoons of the chicken mixture in each tortilla or pita pocket and top with desired condiments. Fold tortilla and roll. Makes 8-10 servings.
Spencer and I use whole-wheat tortillas and put a little low-fat sour cream and cheese on top. So GOOD!! And you have plenty leftovers for lunches or dinner. I took this to lunch at work one day and got lots of compliments on how good it smelled and looked! :)
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Working Towards Your Weight Loss Goal
I know a few of us are probably working towards a certain weight loss goal. My position on weight loss is slow and steady is ideal. Weight loss of as little as 1/2 to 2 pounds per week is realistic and sustainable. The best weight loss programs include healthy diet, physical activity and behavior therapy.
What is a healthy diet? There are tons of diets proclaiming fast and easy solutions that will melt away fat and build muscle. The best diet for you is going to be different than the best diet for me. Your diet needs to include foods you love and enjoy or else you will not stick to it. It will include a variety of foods from each food group. It will also included a thing called moderation. However, sometimes what you eat is not nearly as important as how you eat and why you eat, so that's why examining your behavior will also be important. Most people do not have a healthy relationship with food or with their own body.
I've always loved these versus from D&C 59: 16-20. They give us some good insight into why God created this Earth and how He hopes we use and feel about it.
16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.
I will try to start making posts about various aspects of healthy weight loss and diet. Today's post is about record keeping!
Do you want to know how you can improve your diet and eating habits? Do you want to lose weight? Research shows that people who keep a food diary are more likely to lose weight. Why do you think Weight Watchers asks you to track your diet? Because it helps! Here's why:
1- Raises awareness
I'll tell you this up front...I'm not an advocate of counting calorie for the rest of your life! That is not a healthy relationship to have with food. However, I am an advocate of gaining information and assessing yourself. Look at this as an exercise in researching your eating habits. Do you currently have any idea how many calories you are consuming daily? Do you have any idea how many servings of vegetables you eat on an average day? This record will help you (and I... if you would like me to look over your records I'm happy to!) see areas for improvement and target priorities.
The more information you add to your record the better. At minimum it should include food and amount eaten. But, other useful information are the circumstances surrounding your eating such as time of day, level of hunger, were you alone or with others, feelings (ie. bored, stressed, guilty), multitasking activities (ie. driving, watching tv). Information on these circumstances will help you in examining the how and why of your eating.
2- Forces you to think twice
If you commit to keeping a record a few things will happen. You will be forced to record any and all food you eat. You will have to be accountable for what you eat so you'll think twice about what you put into your mouth! This might cause you to start thinking twice about having to record or enter each and every little snack you consume between meals.
You can keep a record in various ways. Grab a good old fashioned pen and notebook and start jotting things down. Or for the more high tech-ies, there are many great and free tools on the internet.
Here are links to a couple:
www.loseit.com
http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/
You don't have to keep a record every day. If you have the desire, go for it! But, my challenge for you is to record 2 days in the next week as a start. Then let me know if you learned anything about yourself from this exercise in self assessment!
What is a healthy diet? There are tons of diets proclaiming fast and easy solutions that will melt away fat and build muscle. The best diet for you is going to be different than the best diet for me. Your diet needs to include foods you love and enjoy or else you will not stick to it. It will include a variety of foods from each food group. It will also included a thing called moderation. However, sometimes what you eat is not nearly as important as how you eat and why you eat, so that's why examining your behavior will also be important. Most people do not have a healthy relationship with food or with their own body.
I've always loved these versus from D&C 59: 16-20. They give us some good insight into why God created this Earth and how He hopes we use and feel about it.
16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.
Do you want to know how you can improve your diet and eating habits? Do you want to lose weight? Research shows that people who keep a food diary are more likely to lose weight. Why do you think Weight Watchers asks you to track your diet? Because it helps! Here's why:
1- Raises awareness
I'll tell you this up front...I'm not an advocate of counting calorie for the rest of your life! That is not a healthy relationship to have with food. However, I am an advocate of gaining information and assessing yourself. Look at this as an exercise in researching your eating habits. Do you currently have any idea how many calories you are consuming daily? Do you have any idea how many servings of vegetables you eat on an average day? This record will help you (and I... if you would like me to look over your records I'm happy to!) see areas for improvement and target priorities.
The more information you add to your record the better. At minimum it should include food and amount eaten. But, other useful information are the circumstances surrounding your eating such as time of day, level of hunger, were you alone or with others, feelings (ie. bored, stressed, guilty), multitasking activities (ie. driving, watching tv). Information on these circumstances will help you in examining the how and why of your eating.
2- Forces you to think twice
If you commit to keeping a record a few things will happen. You will be forced to record any and all food you eat. You will have to be accountable for what you eat so you'll think twice about what you put into your mouth! This might cause you to start thinking twice about having to record or enter each and every little snack you consume between meals.
You can keep a record in various ways. Grab a good old fashioned pen and notebook and start jotting things down. Or for the more high tech-ies, there are many great and free tools on the internet.
Here are links to a couple:
www.loseit.com
http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/
You don't have to keep a record every day. If you have the desire, go for it! But, my challenge for you is to record 2 days in the next week as a start. Then let me know if you learned anything about yourself from this exercise in self assessment!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Cold Weather Oh My!
Question! What are we supposed to do for exercise when it gets too cold outside!? I want to train for this 5k but I feel bad taking Carter out into the freezing cold! I guess it might be freezing cold Thanksgiving day so we should just get used to it?!
It's still a good idea to do something active indoors sometimes. I have a workout ball and I can get zumba videos from the library! :) I'm looking into getting a used exercise bike.
What are your ideas for workouts indoors?
I have found that i really like all the information available at livestrong.com. There is tons of great info and videos on fitness and health. Take a look it you get a chance.
It's still a good idea to do something active indoors sometimes. I have a workout ball and I can get zumba videos from the library! :) I'm looking into getting a used exercise bike.
What are your ideas for workouts indoors?
I have found that i really like all the information available at livestrong.com. There is tons of great info and videos on fitness and health. Take a look it you get a chance.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Broccoli & Cheddar Mini-Frittatas
Got this recipe from The Biggest Loser Cookbook. Very EASY & Yummy! :) Makes a good breakfast or snack.Olive Oil Spray
1 Cup chopped steamed broccoli
2 Cups egg substitute
2 ounces (1 Cup) finely shredded light or low-fat cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly mist 8 cups of a nonstick standard muffin tin with the olive oil spray.
Divide the broccoli evenly among the cups (2 tablespoons in each). Then divide the egg substitute evenly among the cups (1/4 cup in each). Bake the frittatas for 7-9 minutes, or until almost set.
Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the tops of the frittatas. Bake for 8-10 minutes longer, or until the egg is no longer runny and the cheese is melted. (Note that they will puff up quite a bit in the oven, but after resting out side the oven they will deflate). Cool for about 2 minutes before serving.
Makes 4 (2 frittatas) servings. Per serving: 102 calories
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
One Step At A Time
I finally got my new running shoes this weekend! On Monday morning, I set out early (6 am) to do a small jog around the neighborhood. I forgot the fact that I haven't been steadily jogging for a few months now and expected my body to start where I left off. WRONG! Why do I have to learn things the hard way? It took some sore muscles to remind me that I have to slow down. I'm going to be walking this week and getting my body used to this again. I feel disappointed in myself that I stopped my routine and have to start over again. But starting over and moving forward is what matters.
My challenge for me and you all is to do something active for at least 30 minutes each day this week. WE CAN DO IT!
My challenge for me and you all is to do something active for at least 30 minutes each day this week. WE CAN DO IT!
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