Brand New Year

I have definitely been neglecting posting on here, sorry for that.  I have had a lot going on, but what better time to get back to updating you all on healthy recipes and healthy lifestyle tips than in a new year.  Everyone should do their best to make good choices all year though.  If you make resolutions try to stick to them, it will make you feel good about yourself.  Don't give up.  I personally don't really make resolutions exactly, but I have told myself I want to better me this year.  Each day to do my best to be the happiest and healthiest. Healthy isn't always what you eat, it's more than food.  It's more than just exercise.  It's how you see life and how you live it.  Less stress and worry is my main goal.  Life will happen no matter how much you worry so why not just live life and be content with what you have and who you have in your life.

Around the holidays my dad ended up in the hospital.  He has had heart attacks in the past and since has done a lot of good for his body, but in the past year or so didn't work as hard at it.  He didn't have another heart attack, but he needed open heart surgery, triple bypass.  My family history and the want to live a long life is what makes me want to be as healthy as possible.  It's not something that is easy for a lot of people, it's work and commitment.  One thing I do know though is once you become healthy and get into a routine you crave healthier things and it becomes a lot easier.  It's a lifestyle you need to make for yourself.  I'm not saying you can't indulge and enjoy amazing food because you can and I sure do, but it's doing that in moderation and making little substitutes in your every day to better what you are putting into your body.

Recipes and more posts to come, but today...

Cut Costs & Cut Calories, Coffee Style

In today's economy I think most people are trying to find more and more ways to cut every day expenses.  With doing this we still want to be able to enjoy things that we love though.  We can't give up everything or life wouldn't be as enjoyable.  For me my favorite cost is Starbucks coffee.  It's something that immediately brightens my day.  As much as I know I could do without and I do do without it when it just can't fit it into my budget on certain tight months/weeks, sometimes you just need to have it.

"Coffee makes it possible to get out of bed, but chocolate makes it worthwhile."

My usual drink is a Grande Non-Fat Mocha (only one pump, no whip), this is the basic mixture of espresso and chocolate, two of my favorite things.  The normal grande size has four pumps of mocha (all flavored espresso drinks have four pumps at a grande size), but to cut calories I only get one because it's just enough to taste the mocha without it being overbearing.  Sometimes too much chocolate is too much, believe it or not.  You can do without all the pumps in all of their drinks if your thinking about your waistline.

A way to cut calories and also cost is to make your own espresso drink, but still with the taste of Starbucks signature espresso.  If you have a espresso machine, like I do, just purchase Starbucks espresso beans, but even with having a maker I rarely actually make it myself.  It's just easier and for me faster to just stop in the Starbucks I pass daily.  But I more recently found something for the Keurig that you can put in your own espresso beans, grounded already.  It's called a reuseable filter, check your local Kitchen product stores.  This is much easier and faster then using an espresso machine.  So purchase your favorite espresso beans, whether it's Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or wherever and enjoy brewed espresso from your home!

Today I decided to save some cash and instead of ordering my normal hot drink at Starbucks I made a hot chocolate k-cup at home with my Keurig.  This is made with water obviously so the lack of milk will save quite a bit of calories.  This is my substitute for the chocolate flavor.  Then I made an espresso k-cup with my Keurig, mixed them together, added a little cinnammon and creamer.  It was my very own Mocha.  Granted it's not completely the same and I will still enjoy my normal drink from Starbucks when I can, but it's good to know of other options.

Grande Mocha - $4.33

2 K-Cups & Creamer - About $1.60

That is $2.73 of savings per day!

Also, at the coffee shops they have great smelling fresh baked goods that may be hard to pass up.  By not being around them you could possibly save on unneeded calories!  Make something or grab a healthy breakfast bar from home.

NYE

Forget new year resolutions and just make everyday the best possible.  Every day is a gift and every day should matter.  A new year may be a fresh start to some, but taking care of yourself should be all the time not just after the ball drops.  So be the healthiest you can all year round, don't just have a resolution to do things different, put so much pressure on yourself and then be discouraged when you don't follow through.  Just do your best every day, that's all we can do.  Even if it's just eating a healthy breakfast or going on a walk on your lunch break.  Every little bit matters, you matter.

I hope everyone has a safe, healthy and happy new year!

Happy Tuesday!

"Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship." - Buddha

Do What You Can

I finally realized New Year Resolutions are just too stressful to worry about and keep up with.  Most people don't even follow through with them.  I DVRed Good Morning America this morning because I knew Bethenny Frankel was going to be on for a segment. She is just very inspiring to me and I figured any new knowledge learned from her is a good thing.  She has always shared health, food and exercise tips in her career, but it's how she incorporates these things in her life in a normal way just like you and I would have to that is the special part.  She has taught me a lot and today showed me why only make changes come the new year, why not make small changes throughout the whole year.  Do what you can when you can, there's always tomorrow.

"Everyday is a fresh start." - Bethenny Frankel

One small thing I am going to try my best to add to my everyday is keeping hydrated. Besides coffee, water is what I mainly drink with an occasional soda here and there.  I have noticed that I don't drink very often though.  Usually I have a 16.9 oz water bottle at work and one later one at night with dinner, but I am changing that to three bottles at work and one bottle at night which completes the 8 glasses of 8oz of water a day that "they" say to have.  I must say, after the first day doing this I was down a pound. I'm sure it's just water weight, but I'll take it.  Are you drinking enough?




- - Don't waste food by throwing out the holiday leftovers, just have some control and watch your portions.
- - A little exercise is better then none! I took Zumba today after months of doing nothing.
- - Try not to sweat the small stuff. This is what I struggle with.
- - Put yourself first sometimes even if you're someone who puts everyone else first.
-- Check out: www.bethenny.com/

Self Admitted Wine-o

A Helpful Giada Tip

"When you're baking, always use room temperature ingredients." -- Giada