My RunForYourLives Outfit

So I am running high on endorphins right now – I am in love with running! Lets hope this love continues, since April was month two of running. And during April I had to deal with an “injury” of sorts. While playing with my youngest, I did something funky to my back that caused my sciatic nerve to be a pain to deal with – from my glute down my hamstring. I tried working through it, then I tried resting it, finally I just medicated it with Aleve and some topical peppermint ointment and that did the trick.

To recap the first month:

My first “run” was March 1, 2012:  4.1 Speed, 1.0 Incline, 15 Minutes, .94 mi.

My last “run” from that month was March 31, 2012:  7.0 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 2 mi in 19 min 45 sec. 2.5 mi in 25 minutes.

I increased my top speed, my miles run and my pace. I was pretty proud and kind of in disbelief I’d be able to make so much progress again. I was right in a way, progress was slower in April. But when I looked at the numbers I did see a vast improvement! As the month went on, I concentrated less on what my top speed could be, instead paying attention to my final run time. This helped me find a pace I could run at consistently, rather than tiring myself out too quickly at a quick sprint. After all, my goal is to run a 5K … with zombies.

Here is the progress for Running: Month 2

April 1, 2012:  7.2 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 2.5 mi in 25 minutes and 40 seconds

April 2, 2012:  7.3 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 2.0 mi in 19 minutes and 38 seconds  

April 4, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.0 mi in 19 minutes and 36 seconds – this is where I stopped taking note of Top Speed

April 6, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.0 mi in 19 minutes and 40 seconds

April 7, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.5 mi in 25 minutes

**BREAK – TOOK A WEEK OFF FOR MY SCIATIC NERVE**

April 14, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.5 mi in 25 minutes

April 15, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.5 mi in 24 minutes and 30 seconds

April 16, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.5 mi in 24 minutes and 55 seconds

April 18, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.5 mi in 24 minutes and 17 seconds

April 22, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.5 mi in 24 minutes and 35 seconds – around here is when I discovered my pace of 6.4 was comfortable

April 24, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.5 mi in 24 minutes and 45 seconds

April 26, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.5 mi in 23 minutes and 20 seconds

April 28, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.5 mi in 23 minutes and 40 seconds – realizing I am actually running into the bar on the front of the treadmill, 6.4 is such a “comfortable” pace.

April 29, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.5 mi in 23 minutes and 53 seconds

April 30, 2012:  1.5 Incline, 2.5 mi in 23 minutes and 33 seconds

So, what I gained by the end of April was that I now can run 20 minutes straight at a 6.4 + pace. That will get me 2 miles in under 20 minutes. And although progress isn’t seen with every one, as I track it I can see a great improvement from the beginning of the month to the end. For May my goal is to run 3 miles in under 30 minutes.

I am still loving my Brooks Running Shoes – Brooks PureConnect Womens. And I am still listening to my favorite running app, Zombies, Run. Couch to 5K has NOTHING on Zombies, Run when it comes to motivation!

As far as weight, I ended up having to google about weight gain with running. It seems that you can actually see an increase in weight due to:

1. Building Muscle

2. Water Weight as muscles rebuild

3. Eating too much – so it’s fat – because running makes you HUNGRY. So make sure you eat the right things when hungry!

4. Energy Stores – I read that your body will adapt to running and realize you will need “energy” stored up for these future runs. So you may see an increase in weight on certain days.

Right now I am seeing an extra pound on my frame. For a big guy, that might be nothing. For a 5’6″ small framed woman it is driving me NUTS. But seeing how it’s normal, I am just going to keep an eye on it and make sure my pants still fit next month.

MORE TO READ:

A Beginning Runner: Month One

This is solely the opinion of Erin T. as she trains for a Zombie 5k. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

But then I found my motivation. I am always better when I have a “bigger” goal. I decided to run a Zombie 5k with obstacles called RunForYourLives (see image to right, courtesy of RunForYourLives). You actually have zombies chasing you through a wooded obstacle course. Crazy and definitely enough motivation (fear) to get me moving.

But I still had to get through the tedious practice running. That’s when I discovered an exhilirating zombie running app/game called Zombies, Run. In the app, you are Runner 5 during a Zombie Apocalypse. It is your job to run different missions and gather materials to build up the base camp. Every time you run you can start or continue a mission with someone speaking to you over your headset, intermingled with your own music. You speed up when they tell you to RUN and you can slow down as needed – as long as you aren’t being chased by zombies! With this app, I look forward to running to hear more and continue my game.

Next I learned that my shoes weren’t up to par for running. So I bought some super minimalist running shoes that allowed my foot to move in a natural motion, yet still provided the support and cushioning I needed. The shoes are PureConnect from Brooks Running. You can read my review on Pure Connect Running Shoes here: Pure Connect Running Shoes Review

Now that I had my goal, my motivation and my shoes – all I needed was to track to see how I progressed and to keep me on target with each run. And here is how far a beginner runner can go in a short amount of time.

March 1, 2012:  4.1 Speed, 1.0 Incline, 15 Minutes, .94 mi

March 2, 2012:  4.2 Top Speed, 1.0 Incline, 15 Minutes, .94 mi

March 4, 2012:  4.2 Top Speed, 1.0 Incline, 15 Minutes, .94 mi

March 6, 2012:  5.1 Top Speed, 1.0 Incline, 15 Minutes, 1+ mi

March 9, 2012:  5.1 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 15 Minutes, 1.1 mi

March 10, 2012:  5.3 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 20 Minutes, 1.55 mi

March 11, 2012:  5.5 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 20 Minutes, 1.67 mi

March 13, 2012:  5.7 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 20 Minutes, 1.76 mi

March 15, 2012:  5.9 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 20 Minutes, 1.77 mi

March 17, 2012:  6.0 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 20 Minutes, 1.83 mi

March 18, 2012:  6.3 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 20 Minutes, 1.91 mi (First Mile in 10 minutes, 30 seconds)

March 21, 2012:  6.3 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 20 Minutes, 1.94 mi (First Mile in 9 minutes, 58 seconds)

March 24, 2012:  6.6 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 21 Minutes, 2 mi (First Mile in 10 minutes)

March 25, 2012:  6.7 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 20 Minutes & 24 Seconds, 2 mi (First Mile in 9 minutes, 50 seconds)

March 26, 2012:  6.7 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 20 Minutes, 2 mi (First Mile in 9 minutes)

March 28, 2012:  6.9 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 20 Minutes, 2.06 mi

March 31, 2012:  7.0 Top Speed, 1.5 Incline, 2 mi in 19 min 45 sec. 2.5 mi in 25 minutes.

As you can see, within the first month I had small gains with each run to help lead me towards your goal. By the end of the month, the improvement seems huge! I may not be marathon-ready, but I still have 7.5 more months to train. My final goal is to run 3 miles in 30 minutes. And I am mixing in my usual strength training with this new running routine.

As an FYI, I did notice my weight seemed to fluctuate more than usual mid-month with this new routine. But in the end, it seems to have settled back down. But I think I actually gained some muscle mass in my legs (YES!) and lost some around the belly (Double Yes!). So running is an excellent partner in helping keep my heart pumping and calories burning in a short amount of time. While the strength training allows me to continue burning calories even at rest. See me to the right … not bad for 33, eh?

This is solely the opinion of  Erin T. as she trains for a Zombie 5k. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Finally, as a lark, I picked up a pair of more expensive running shoes and told my husband that these must feel different if they cost so much. When I put them on, it was amazing. It was wrapped securely around my foot, like a second sock. And the cushioning and bounce it provided with each step was amazing. The brand was Brooks Running and they had three different women’s styles to choose from (Pure Flow, Pure Cadence and Pure Connect), but I decided on the first style I tried on – Pure Connect. It retailed for $90.

At the store they only had the aqua/white to choose from – which is powerfully reflective for night runs. But I see online they also have tangerine/gray and raspberry/gray as options. I’d probably have gone with a different color if they had more options in the store. But since I only use my Pure Connect for running on the treadmill (so far) they haven’t gotten too dirty.

I found out that the style I chose is actually a minimalist shoe. It is meant to really give you a feel of the road as you run. Doesn’t that sound awful? Because even though there isn’t a lot of bulk to the shoe, the cushioning is amazing. Plus, there is a “seam/split” between the toe and the rest of your foot that allows for so much flexibility, that the shoe isn’t forcing your foot into a certain position as you run. Instead, you can run in a way that your foot is meant to flex and run. I can see why they do compare it to barefoot running, in a way. But unlike barefoot running, it has a lot of cushioning so your knees aren’t getting too banged up as you run. And I haven’t gotten shin splints since I put them on!

It does have a mesh upper, which I swore I’d never buy after seeing my husband tear through two pairs of shoes with a mesh upper (Reebok Brand) within a few wears. But maybe I am just easier on my shoes, because mine are still perfect, no impending or beginning tears. And the mesh upper let’s my feet “breath” during my “easy” runs. (Ha! I am sweating like a wild horse after just 2 miles!)

The only other thing of note is that I have to emphasize these are running shoes. I can do a fast walk and jog in them. But the way they flex with my feet is too bouncy and odd for day-to-day wear. Plus, I don’t want to put too many miles on them, since you do need to change running shoes after a few hundred miles. The Pure styles have a lifespan of 250 – 300 miles.

I highly suggest reading the reviews of all the Pure styles at BrooksRunning. Serious runners have even more input and may be able to help you choose the right Pure style running shoe for you. I do think I’ll try Pure Cadence in the future and maybe even Pure Connect, just to get a feel of the different shoes and make sure I am choosing the right one for me. But as a beginner runner, I think PureConnect is making my runs easy and possible!

This is solely the opinion of Erin T. This is the story of how she chose her running shoes, which her husband was kind enough to purchase for her. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

I mean, seriously, I was never into running. The whole Mom Buff thing is about strength training and building a shapely physique with weights. Running was BORING. But then I started thinking something with obstacles would be fun. But the thought of RUNNING between obstacles was killing me, I am not a runner. But heck, if you need motivation – not being eaten by zombies is a great one!

You can actually sign up as a runner, spectator or zombie. Zombies are either stumblers or chasers. If you sign up to be a zombie you will be given a zombie make-over that is sure to scare the runners into RUNNING FASTER. You do have to pay a fee to be a zombie, but it is less than being a runner. And zombie slots fill up faster, because there are less of them to go around.

Currently there are still 11 running locations for 2012. More might appear, but don’t hold your breath. Spots fill up fast and no other locations are guaranteed. Be prepared to road-trip it!

And if you are like me and never run a 5K before, I’ll be posting tips and my own progress on prepping for a Zombie 5k here at theMomBuzz.com.

Learn more about the Zombie 5K here: RunForYourLives.com

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Here are ten easy snacking tips to get you to your next meal and keep you on track for healthy living.

1. Apple Slices w/ Peanut Butter

2. Yogurt w/Granola

3.  Cheese Stick w/Grapes

4. Nutrition or Protein Bar: Side Note -I like the Luna Protein Bar – Mint Chocolate Chip. They sell them for $1 at my local grocery store. Supposedly they also have Cookie Dough, Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cherry Almond – but Publix doesn’t carry those. I’ve also recently received a sample of the Peanut Honey Pretzel Bar, which has 10 grams of protein and 3 grams of Fiber. But, I prefer the taste of the Mint Chocolate Chip Bar, which also has more protein (13 grams) and also 3 grams of fiber. But what I like about bars is I can keep them in my purse all the time, unlike my other snack options which require a little cooler.

5. Raisins and/or Yogurt Raisins

6. Strawberries and/or Yogurt Strawberries – try homemade! Source for Homemade Yogurt Strawberries: glamour.com via Erin on Pinterest

7. Granola Bars: You can go homemade or, my new favorite, try a MilkBite. Both the Chocolate Chip and Strawberry are fantastic. But homemade has an expiration date, without any preservatives. And the MilkBite requires that it remain cool (like Milk). So you can also look into other brands of granola bars. Although truthfully, if it’s not a MilkBite, I’m eating a protein bar (see #4).

8. Natural Peanut Butter on a Rice Cake

9. Trail Mix, with nuts and dried fruit

10. Protein Shakes: You can make them with water or milk. I normally do water. You can buy them single serve and ready-to-go, or you can buy a big jug of powder at any vitamin shop. My favorite flavor is Chocolate from Champion Nutrition. I buy mine from the Vitamin Shoppe.

Have other ideas for healthy snacks? Leave them in the comments below!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received a Luna Bar and MilkBite sample in the past, but they did not affect my opinion.

The Thumbs-Up Jacket by 4allbyJoFit is the coolest jacket ever! I am absolutely in love with it. Here is the buzz:

The Thumbs-Up Jacket is a long sleeve jacket that is slightly heavier than the Jo-Wind Shirt. The fabric is different in that the Thumbs-Up Jacket is 87% Polyester and 13% Spandex Heavyweight Jersey. Meanwhile the Jo-Wind shirt is 92% Polyester and 8% Spandex Jo-Dry Jersey. So the Thumbs-Up Jacket provides more weather protection, in my opinion. But that’s not the coolest part. The coolest part is that if you are like me and like to pull your hands into your sleeves, there is a little thumb-hole to keep the sleeves in place.

This thumb-hole is perfect for active women, who want to play sports in cooler weather and don’t want their sleeves to run up their arms. So tennis, golf, running, etc. But it is also for women who have an active lifestyle and like to boat or jet ski. That’s both my mom and my sister – and they have to wear jackets when it gets cool on the water as they speed a long, but the thumbs-up jacket by 4allbyjofit will keep them comfortable out on the sea. And it’s also great for moms who are busy lifting kids in and out of cars, running to and from playdates, busy putting grocery bags in and out of the car, etc. That little thumb-hole will keep the sleeves in place, so you can keep your mind on the task at hand.

The Thumbs-Up Jacket has gone to the beach with my during the summer and I am anxious to get more use out of it once the weather cools down in winter. I think 4allbyjofit was completely forward thinking in this piece, ahead of the curve. And I can’t wait to see what they come out with next!

The Thumbs-Up Jacket is available in black, dark grey, navy, taupe and white. I am usually a small in this line of apparel, but I chose a medium in this case since I like to have extra room with jackets for comfort reasons. The jacket retails for $98 and is simply a must-have! It also makes a great gift idea!

Use “MORE50” at checkout for free ground shipping on orders over $50. Valid thru 8/7/11.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received samples of the items listed above.

The weather is BEAUTIFUL here in the south. Without a doubt, it’s turned into Bikini Weather already! But, like most moms, my body has been through A LOT after giving birth to two boys. One of the biggest reasons I started this journey of  The Mom Buff was to perk up my butt and decrease belly rolls caused by loose skin. I am STILL not where I want to be – but who ever is 100% happy – right? But I am satisfied enough to pull out my Venus Swimwear in the upcoming months.

Now one of the most common questions I get is “WHAT ARE YOU EATING?” And people also want to know if I eat differently than the rest of my family. Yes and no. And it’s not that I am making hideous meals for myself, it’s really that my boys are picky. So I will make a meal for them that I think they will eat. And I eat more grown-up. But we are working on getting them to eat better meals with lots of colored veggies and meat that is not from a bag. “Damn you chicken fingers!!!!”

Anyways – I also do depend on supplements to get me through my day. So that’s a “decent cheat” to get you through it too. Here is my sample meal from the day before I took these photos.

BREAKFAST: Whey Protein (chocolate) mixed with water

10 am Meal: 1 whole egg, 2 servings egg whites scrambled with green onion and brown rice with some soy sauce.

Noon: 1 small can of tuna mixed with relish, banana peppers, dijon mustard, tomatoes and 1/2 a small potato.

2:30pm Meal: 2 Boiled Eggs

Dinner: Brown rice, broccoli and roasted chicken

8:00 Drink: Whey Protein (chocolate) mixed with water

I ran out of tangerines, otherwise I probably would have eaten like 5 of them. I loooove tangerines.

Now here are my most recent pics. I swear I am not day-glo. LOL. I was playing with settings on my photo editing software. Now there is not too much change, but I do see a sweep in my legs. I would like it to be more pronounced.

Any thoughts or questions – just leave a comment below!

This is a peek in the life of Erin T.

Back in December I buzzed about my fitness inspiration, as part of a submission to become part of Team4all. Team4all is a team of women with different fitness backgrounds, whether they are marathon runners, tennis fanatics, knowledgable about nutrition, or simply want to become more fit. The one thing they have in common is a passion for fitness and they (we!) were chosen to help spread the word about chic women’s fitness apparel! The company we are buzzing about if 4allbyJoFit.

I am now stalking their sites and Twitter – and you can too! Here is the fab team of women:

• Kim from Tennis Fixation – tweet her @TennisFixation
• Morgan from Life After Bagels – tweet her @LifeAfterBagels
• Kirsten from Kirsten’s Awesome Quest – tweet her at @kirsten_lewis
• Mariana from The Domestic Buzz – tweet her @ohmariana
• Sharon & Jane from Mom Generations – tweet them @sharoncouto and @janecouto
• Marcia from Mom.Wife.Fitness.Life – tweet her @MarciaGrajewski
• Krista from KrisTastes – tweet her @KrisTastes
• Tina from Faith Fitness Fun – tweet her @TinaFFF
• Karen from RunKdubRun – tweet her @runkdubrun
• You already know me – ERIN from theMomBuzz – but if you want you can follow me on Twitter @themombuzz
• And you might also want to follow the Women’s Apparel company 4AllByJoFit on Twitter.

V-Neck Top

As part of a welcome kit, I was surprised with some great new fitness duds. After trying them on, I can share my immediate thoughts with you! 4All apparel is designed with women in mind. You can currently shop by Tennis, Golf and Fitness. Although I am not a tennis or golf player, I understand that those clothes have to meet certain styles to play, either according to the rules and/or simply for ease-of-play. For example, the golf shirts are collared and some of the tennis skirts have ball pockets.

I concentrate on strength training and some aerobics, so I am mostly eying the Fitness Apparel. They sent me three pieces to try. One was a Knit Capri, available in 5 shades. Normally I wear a medium (size 6) in fitness apparel, due to the tight, slim fit. But4all is more generously sized for women with hips. So if you are a 6 or smaller, go with the size small. A medium had about an inch too much material, making it fall too low on my hips. If you are an 8 or 10, I can confidently say the medium should be good. Such a shame, because I loved the soft material! It would have been great for Zumba.

The Knit Capri has a 3-inch waistband, on-seam pockets and an invisible zipper to keeping essential items carefully stowed away. The center-fold crease-stitch naturally lengthens the legs and the 4all signature back patch pockets add to the style.

Jo Wind Shirt

I also received the Georgia Classic V-Neck Tank in Peony, which is pinkish. The medium was very flowy on me, which is good on days that I feel less-than-slim. The V-Neck Tank was very comfortable to work out in, even as I bent over to do kickbacks. It didn’t show too much cleavage as I faced the mirror. And the moisture-wicking, breathable fabric was a must-have during my sweat-a-thon during Zumba. The fabric is 92% Polyester and 8% Spandex Jo-Dry Jersey, so if you get a more form-fitting size, it will still easily move with you.

Finally, they sent a Jo-Wind Shirt. This would be great for beach activities, like wave-running which can get you quite chilly as the wind blows and water sprays. I received it in Medium, which is perfect for wearing over my other fitness apparel. I am using it to wear on walks to and from the gym, when I otherwise might get too cold. The zipper lets more air in or less, as needed. And the moisture wicking and quick dry Jo-Dry Jersey material is essential after a hard work-out.

So my first impression is that I am beyond happy to be paired with With 4All by Jo Fit, delivering fitness apparel that will keep you looking fabulous and fit, as you kick-butt in any sport.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. The Mom Buzz is a #team4all blogger. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Surprise!

Okay, so I loving the new gym. The equipment rocks and I started doing cardio again, since I am in love with Zumba. I am still getting a feel for the new equipment, so I feel like I haven’t made some gains as I try to get used to things again. I know, Dumb Bells are Dumb Bells – but they are DIFFERENT dumb bells to me. They just feel different… but I figure that this month I’ll be back to my old pump-sweat-and-ignore-the-crowd self.

I took some photos about two weeks ago and finally got them up for you to see. I am still shocked by how far I’ve come on this journey, but the gains have definitely slowed. I think now it’s about tweaking my diet and routine.

Speaking of diet, if you haven’t read it yet – read my article YOUR STARVING YOURSELF for a quick meal schedule. I think that’s one of the most confusing thing for people wanting to get fit, is they cut their diet too drastically.

Now for photos. I’ve been watching my diet more closely and starting drinking my protein shakes with water instead of milk. Here are the links you can visit to compare these recent ones to the previous set, as well as the beginning set.

JANUARY 17, 2011 PHOTOS

ERIN 2009 – 2010

:drumroll please:

Any questions – just ask!

Surprise!

I was reading a magazine the other day and it stated that most women are starving themselves, thus slowing down their metabolism, causing their bodies to eat away at muscle and store fat. If you eat the proper foods throughout the day (6 times is optimal), your body won’t think its going to starve, will burn fat and build muscle, and you’ll be less likely to binge eat.

Someone once asked me what my trick was to staying in shape. Although I still feel I have a ways to go to get the body I want, I do have the foundation to get there. You won’t get there by diet or exercise alone – you have to combine the two … and add in a good night’s sleep, too! But let’s tackle food first.

I’ve been there, so I know what many of you do. Maybe you skip breakfast and don’t eat until lunch. Or maybe you eat oatmeal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, a chicken dinner and still can’t shake off those rolls. Well, your body thinks it’s starving, so it is going to do everything it can to hang on to it’s fat by slowing your metabolism. If you eat every 3 hours, healthy options, your body will realize it’s NOT starving, speeding up your metabolism.

But obviously, that does not mean you can eat chocolate doughnuts every 3 hours – because that is not the food your body needs to thrive. What it wants is a nice balance of protein and healthy carbs. I’ve read so much of how much protein a person needs, and personally decided an easy, good rule of thumb to getting a sleek body is a gram of protein for every pound of weight. Men need a little more, totally sedentary women less. But if you wanted to be sedentary, I imagine you wouldn’t be reading this. I would probably suggest 4 ounce servings of meat per meal (tuna, chicken, turkey) or 1 egg scrambled with 1/3 cup of egg whites.

That said, here is a sample diet of what I eat as a mom throughout the day.

Meal 1 (7 am) – Protein Shake (Chocolate – yum!) either with milk or water
Meal 2 (9:30am) – 1/4 cup of oatmeal and scrambled eggs (1 whole egg, 1/3 egg whites)
Meal 3 (12:00) – 4 ounces of chicken and 2 tangerines
Meal 4 (2:30pm) - 6 ounces of tuna, relish, a tbsp of mayonnaise, broccoli
Meal 5 (5:00pm) – 4 ounces of turkey meatballs, sweet potato (without all the butter – use spices and truvia to sweeten)
Meal 6 (Between 7 and 9) – Protein Shake

On Saturdays (okay and sometimes Friday night) I cheat. I don’t go CRAZY. But Friday night I might have a few cookies. And Saturday morning I get some Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee and Donuts with the family. YUM!  Then I try to eat smart again.

Don’t feel bad if you fall into an unscheduled cheat – just move on and eat well the rest of the time. I find the more I dwell on the cheat, the more I want to keep cheating. But you’ll find once you eat cleaner, the easier it is to keep doing it!

Oh – and here is my secret cheat – Oranges. Whenever I want something sweet and filling at an unscheduled moment, I grab an orange or tangerine. So far, so good! I think oranges, although sweet, are a negative calorie food since they take more calories to digest than they contain.

Any questions – just ask!