Bye Bye To The Fat Life!!!

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I did it, and I’m so glad I did!

I joined the gym…. I’ve wanted to join for a long time now but finances, me not driving, and other various things stopped me from doing it. Although I did well with my weight loss at first (lost 40lbs and surprised i've kept most of it off), I noticed I started to slack off big time.

I have my Wii, and have been doing various games/exercises with that, I’ve been doing my kettle Bell workouts etc, but it just doesn’t cut it. I have so many other reasons when I’m at home NOT to exercise, that I just put it off and put it off. I had to go back to the gym.

Back in the day, I used to LOVE to workout at the gym, you would find me there daily almost 3 hrs a day, especially right before I got married, I was a gym machine! You’d think I lived there working out daily. I really missed it, and I get my motivation by going, it really does make a huge difference.

I decided to join Super Fitness, which has a great facility, ton’s of machines and the best part, a personal trainer included in your monthly fee (which is pretty cheap too $19.99/mth). I think that’s one of the things that swayed me besides it being so close to home. I’ve always wanted to have a personal trainer but with any other gym I’ve been to, it was always an extra fee. Not here, everything is included in your membership, it’s GREAT!

I had my first workout and session with my trainer yesterday. I ended up being at the gym for about an hour and a half. Working with free weights, circuit training and then a 30 minute cardio session, let me just say, I remember now why I HATE CARDIO!!! Lol… I’d rather work with weights ALL DAY EVERY DAY but I know, gotta get that cardio in, it’s the key to weight loss.

I’m not heading there today due to hubby’s work schedule and won’t be able to get there on the weekends either for the same reason, ACK!! I was trying to figure out scenarios on how to get there, but it just didn’t work. So, looking at his work schedule for next week and beyond and making my ‘workout’ schedule for the gym, so I know what days I will and will not be going. I guess on the days not working out, it will be home bound workouts for now.

I can’t wait until we can get a second car!!!! One of the good things about this gym too is they have a Super Fitness Kids area. It’s not just a ‘daycare’ setting, the kiddos actually get to play around and workout too on their own sized machines, my girls can’t wait to go.

So I’m actually happy I did this, and excited about it too. I can’t wait to see the toning and weight loss that’s going to happen!! I also notice one very important thing. My mood change! When I’m working out, I’m HAPPY. There’s no longer a worry or depression going on in my head… I find I’m more ME again, so this helps tremendously.

Oh the other great thing, which I wasn’t too happy about at first, is it’s a co-ed gym, and you all know me, I looooovveee my muscle heads LMAO and boy oh boy did I see some YUMMY ones yesterday!!!

Save Money on Groceries - Avoid These 5 Food Fads

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(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - You don’t have to get very far down the aisle at the grocery store to realize that a dollar doesn’t go nearly as far as it used to. In fact, food prices start the new year more than 6 percent higher than in the past, only energy costs have gone up more.* But experts say there are ways to cut your food bill without sacrificing nutrition, identifying five food fads to avoid if you want to eat right and spend less.

Like most of us Kandi Ziccardi has to plan her trips to the grocery store. Getting food that’s on her list and trying to stay in her budget takes some strategy.

“I stick to some of the basics, try to skip by some of the aisles that I know I don’t need anything in, just so I don’t pick things up impulsively,” says Kandi.

It’s an effective way to shop and helps Kandi avoid some costly mistakes. Doctor Robert Murray of Nationwide Children’s Hospital is a renowned nutritionist, who says there are are five fad foods you should avoid when price is a priority.

First, think twice about organic foods. If you buy organic for environmental reasons or as a lifestyle choice, that’s fine, but...

“In these times when the economy’s tough and you’re trying to make every dollar count , from a nutritional point of view, there’s no benefit to buying organic and paying that premium,” says Dr. Murray.

Next, avoid falling for designer fruits and vegetables. Fruits like pomegranates and acai fruit are chic, but blueberries and plums are just as healthy and much cheaper. Also, Don’t assume fresh is always best. Buying food in bulk, either frozen or canned can save a lot of money.

“The nutritional quality of frozen and canned, is equal to that of fresh. And consumers need to take advantage of that,” says Dr. Murray.

The next fad to be aware of is pre-packaged foods. For example, buying carrots and cutting them yourself is much cheaper than buying items that are pre-sliced. And finally, be careful of drinks that are fortified with vitamins or minerals. Not only do they cost more, but they often have more calories
than you’d think.

“Keep in mind, that some of these things, they are described as vitamin water, but there’s 150 calories in this - just as there is in a 12 ounce Coke,” says Dr. Murray.

Here’s one more tip, experts suggest buying larger quantities of fruits, like blueberries, in the summer when they’re plentiful. Freeze them in a zip lock bag and use them throughout the year. The next time you go shopping, keep these five food fads in mind if you want to keep your family and your budget lean.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index - Month Ending October 2008 (the latest available data as of this writing), United States Department of Labor, retrieved at www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf