VLOG: IM70.3–Weigh-in Sob Story

 

It’s not always grins & giggles…yet the journey continues.

MyBlogSpark: Yoplait Light’s Two Week Tune Up

I told y’all that I was on a mission to be Fit, Phat & Fabulous this year (or rather to keep up the race & pace), so when I was offered the opportunity to participate in The “Yoplait Light Two Week Tune Up” Challenge, I said YES!

 

This year, Yoplait Light is giving women a great new way to get ready for special occasions with the launch of the new Two Week Tune Up plan. Whether it’s for a class reunion, a birthday, or your best friend’s wedding, Yoplait Light’s Two Week Tune Up could help you lose five pounds in two weeks by:

• Replacing your breakfast and lunch with a Yoplait Light yogurt, a whole grain,
  and a fruit
• Eating a diet rich in lean protein and non-fat dairy, including a sensible dinner, beverages, and snacks
• Walking 30-40 minutes daily

I got my  Yoplait Light yogurt gift pack in the mail that included 28 VIP coupons so that I could stock up on all the Yoplait Light yogurt I would need for my Two Week Tune Up. Also included in the prize pack was a gym bag, a reflective wrist wallet and a pedometer to keep me moving and motivated. 

I went to the store and I picked out all the my favorites and decided to try a bunch of the relatively new flavors that you hear about on the commercials like Black Forest Cake, Key Lime Pie & Red Velvet Cake. I didn’t need the pedometer to keep me moving as I was already well on my way to “moving” training for a 10miler, triathlons & just plain working out. I ended up using the bag to cart my new swim gear.

 

Well, sports fans, the road to purgatory is paved with great intentions. I started out on the Tune-up all fine and dandy, made it three days and ended up get bronchitis or some gosh awful cooties that made me absolutely miserable. I fell off the wagon. Just when I was beginning to feel better and I restarted the Tune-up I got that 24 hour stomach watch me re-enact the exorcist bug and well, I just wasn’t – just couldn’t handle eating two spoonful's of yogurt let alone twice a day.

 

What I can tell you is this – the three days that I did eat Yoplait Light Yogurt twice a day – DELICIOUS. They are truly just a yummy & tasty as they sound on the commercials…and since TheFireMarshall went ahead and finished them off like a dessert or snack…I think I have some backup on that review.

 

I’ve lost about 5lbs total although I don’t think I can attribute it to just the Tune Up. I’m pretty sure my own personal exorcism played a part too. If you want to find out more on how you too can participate in the Yoplait Light Two Week Tune Up, go to

www.Yoplait.com, where you will find the full plan details as well as robust online tools to help you lose weight and boost your confidence over two weeks. Yoplait Light has provided tips and advice available on Yoplait.com, along with valuable online weight loss tools such as a meal planner, healthy recipes and a daily food and exercise tracker. With 33 delicious flavors of Yoplait Light to choose from, you can switch up your diet menu as often as you like.

 

Now, would I ever leave my fellow Fit, Phat & Fabulous readers hanging without the opportunity to  win their own Yoplait Light Two Week Tune-up Prize pack? NEVER. I am going to give away to one of my lucky readers the same prize pack pictured above. Please note that your winner’s prize pack will include only one VIP coupon* for a free cup of Yoplait Light yogurt.
*This coupon offer for Yoplait Light yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.

All you have to do to enter is to leave me a comment HERE and tell me which Yoplait Light flavor you are most looking forward to incorporating into your two week tune up.

 

If you would like an additional entry, copy and paste the following tweet about it on Twitter:

Looking fwd to my Two Week Tune Up from @TheTravelDiva, @YoplaitYogurt & #myblogpark.

 

It’s that simple. Winner will be announced on Wednesday, March 2nd. ENTER NOW!

 

Disclaimer: Yoplait provided me with the free product, information and giveaway through MyBlogSpark

Cooking With Love–Apple Chips

I previously wrote about taking a cooking workshop with Chef Carla Hall. One of the items on the menu that went with the Brule was Apple Chips. I couldn’t help but think that they would be an awesome – healthy - chip like snack instead of regular ole potato chips. You get all the joy & satisfaction of a crunchy snack without all the fat & calories. YES!

 

I decided to try both apple & pears for my first go round.

 

They are very easy to make.

 

First, prepare some simple syrup – I made the syrup from Carla’s recipe – Ginger Syrup. Mix 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar & 1/2 cup chopped fresh ginger in pan, bring to boil till everything dissolves, set aside. I used crystalized ginger because that is what I had in the fridge (which didn’t all dissolve – no matter – I worked around it, and, in fact, the syrup tastes even better today). Set oven to 350.

 

Next, slice up your apple thinly as in the photo above. Lay out your slices on parchment paper and brush both sides of slices with syrup. I sprinkled them with my “compliments” – kosher salt – and put them in the oven.

 

Place your trays in oven and back for approx. 40 min.

 

 

and…WHA LA! You have chips -

 

They are delicious. The FireMarshall liked them too. He said they have a slight sweet & sour taste to them.

 

Here are a couple of things that I will try with my next batch:

- either put the oven up to 400 or leave in longer. A few didn’t get quite crispy enough. You don’t want to burn them (remember – not ready, not ready, BURNT) but while the ones that are not crispy are still good, I want crispy.

- don’t forget the salt. I went light because I wasn’t sure how it would come out, but they are tasty indeed with the sweet and salty combo.

- make note to buy some silpats to use instead of parchment paper.

 

Now that I have some syrup already made I can do this any ole time. Gonna make me up a batch tomorrow for my snack.

 

Now, for all you Weight Watchers people wondering OMG! how many points is that…well, and apple has 0 (ZERO) points. I’m going to add 1 (maybe 2) points for the syrup. If you use a sugar substitute then you are back to ZERO points per serving. You get about 15-20 slices from a nice size apple.

 

Satisfying, Filling. I don’t know about anybody else, but the texture & ‘crunch’ or chew factor plays heavily in my choice of foods. That’s why liquid diets don’t work well for me. Unsatisfying, NOT fulfilling.

 

Add this snack to your fitness & healthy eating lifestyle. You will be pleasantly surprised.

 

Get Crunchin!

Phat & Fabulous - Week 1

Thank you to those of you who asked me how my 1st week went with WWOnline, tracking and exercising. Well, I started out tracking everything very well and then...we had that "going back to college" dinner where I stopped counting the glasses of sangria...and I didn't get back to it until Sunday.

I think the tracking is extrememly helpful and keeps you thinking before you open your mouth or reaching for junk. I also don't want to tell ya'll that I ate an entire day (or week) of calories/points in one sitting. Definitly helps me make better choices. Perhaps I should make better choices just because...it's a healthier choice...yet accountability & the fear of a few snickers works well too. LOL.

Even with my slacking off on tracking points...Drumroll...

I'm down 2.7 lbs. GO ME!!!

How are you doing with your goals so far?

Lose Weight in 2008

Phat & Fabulous - A bunch of 40+ women, saving the world and losing weight one pound at a time.

Tune in to the continuing saga of these SuperWomen:
Wonder Woman
Warrior Princess
Storm
Polly-isha
Hot-Tamale
Swaz
...and a few who will remain unnamed since they bout to get exiled for violating rules (non-participation=lack of accountability). Woman-up.

Enjoy the journey.

Just When You Thought...

Just when you thought you were the too big to be wearing a two piece bathing suit cause of the dunlaps and back fat there is someone who will definitely think that they are still a super model and put it on. How many back fat rolls do you see? Do people just not look at themselves in the mirror and NOT see the 3-4 rolls of fat caused by you tying your bathing suit top SOOOO tight to hold up the jugs in the front that you induce back fat rolls? And don't even ask me about what the front view was. JESUS help my eyes. I almost went blind.

Now I don't really care if your are fat/overweight/obese - whatever. That's your business. What does bother me is when you are clearly a size 16+ and you are still squeezing your behind in a size 10 or smaller. WHY? Do you really believe that you are one sexy mama wearing a pair of jeans that are 5 sizes too small with your muffin' top hanging over the front and the crack of your ass hanging out the back. AND YES - the thong underwear you thought looked sexy on the hanger at Victoria Secrets should have stayed there cause it looks like you are wearing butt floss. That HAS to hurt.

Put some gosh damn Spanx on and/or get a freakin body shaper. Yeah they cinch everything in and give you a smooth line - which can be a tad uncomfortable. Take small shallow breaths. But you won't look like you have 8 breasts and 3 butts from all the too mfn' tight/small crap you are wearing. STOP THE MADNESS. It is not the bathing suit/dress - whatever - that makes you look fat...Its the mfn' FAT that makes you look fat. Come to grips.

Please world - wear your size or lose weight. You CAN look good at any (well almost - the 1000lb man does NOT look good). Whew...I'm going to go eat some damn celery.