Welcome Wednesday

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COOKIES!!

Today's post is about everybody's favorite thing COOKIES!!! I hate to disappoint you, but it is not about any regular cookies. These are actually healthy cookies. Yesterday I was in Walmart, and I seen free samples!! I don't know about you but I love free samples, especially anything sweet. :) Well this is what was being handed out.

They are called Praventia. At first after the lady told me all about how healthy they were and all the good things that were in them, I was a little afraid of what they would taste like. They come in two flavors Chocolate Chip and Ginger. Although I do love all things Chocolate, I really liked the Ginger the best. Here is a little information about these cookies that I copied from their website:

Praeventia products are made from carefully chosen ingredients. What sets Praeventia products apart is that they contain inulin (a prebioticdietary fibre coming from chicoree roots) and Wellmune WGP^®.

What’s more, these products contain no trans fat and some of them are low in saturated fats. It is widely acknowledged that a balanced diet that is low is saturated and trans fats can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular (heart) disease. These products also contain a high proportion of whole grain oats, which are a soluble fiber that helps lower blood cholesterol—and keep heart healthy. Seventy percent cocoa dark chocolate has also been added to some varieties. It contains polyphenols (antioxydants), the health benefits of which are now obvious.

One pouch of Praeventia products provides 3 to 4 g of fiber, making it a source of dietary fiber that not only offers health benefits, but also helps you feel full when it is eaten as a snack (helping control your urges between meal times).

Suggestions from a nutritionist

Praeventia products go great with yogurt or probiotic juice. Prebiotics inulin and probiotics work together, which makes Praeventia products containing prebiotics dietary fibre accompanied by the likes of a probiotic yogurt the perfect combination!

Trans fat free and low in saturated fats

Praeventia products are the right choice
for anyone looking for a healthy snack
or dessert.

Individual servings of Praeventia products are perfect for your lunch box or sporting activities. They’re ideal for active people in a hurry!

It also goes without saying that these products are great desserts for anyone with an interest in their health.

Anick Jean, 
Dt.P. Nutritionist/Dietitian.

They come in a box and have 7 packages in them. There is a 140 calories, and 5g of fat in a pouch.They use Agave Sweetner, which I am loving because lately I have been hearing bad things about other low-cal sweetners. I love the fact that it has a natural probiotic in it. And they do taste great!! I couldn't stop my kids from eating them. Especially Wesley and he is my picky eater. So if you get a chance I would highly recommend trying these out. You can find them in the cookie aisle at Walmart. I think you will like them as much as I did!! 

Disclaimer: I was not paid by the company to review these I just thought they were so good and healthy. That anyone wanting to eat healthier would like to try these out.

Before and Halfway

For today's blog I thought I would show some before and half-way pictures. I say half-way because I am not finished losing the weight I would like to lose. I started this weight journey at almost 200 pounds. I do not have any pictures of myself at that weight because, frankly I wasn't exactly proud of who I was. Content? yes, proud? no.  I was at times content with the way I was, but overall I wanted to be strong and healthy. So, around 2009 I started on my journey. I was 40 years old and I made up the mantra losing 40 pounds at 40. I think I even wrote a post about it in one of my older ones from 2009. Anyway, I thought that if I worked out hard enough I could lose the weight within the year. Well, it hasn't exactly gone the way I planned. I have been at it going on three years. There are some positive things, such as, I have been exercising fairly consistently so I do have a habit of exercising. However, I did struggle with my eating for a long, long, time. I was under the misconception that as long as you exercised hard enough, well, the weight would just pour off. WRONG!!! If you ever have read any of Tosca Reno's articles, she says "that exercising is only 20% part of losing weight, the other 80% is eating." That's right 80%. I was shocked, in fact shocked into reality. She also has said that cardio is important, but if you really want to transform your body you must strength train. Well, let me tell you that was another thing I was doing wrong. All I did was treadmill. And all I did was walk on the treadmill, I really never wanted to challenge myself. I did do quite a bit of incline walking, but never wanted to run. And yes, that got quite a bit of weight off. But I stalled last winter and started gaining. I was gaining because I was discouraged and told myself it wasn't working anyway. Luckily, I only gained back 15 pounds. But, still it is 15 more I had to lose plus what I hadn't lost yet. Okay, so what I am doing different now is, I am running and yes, this cardio only girl has started strength training as well. Also, I have increased the amount of fruits and vegetables I have been eating. Also cutting back the sugar. That was another thing I was addicted to sugar, really, really bad. I thought I had to have something sweet every time I finished eating, if I was reading a book, or whenever I had coffee. The picture that is by itself was taken last winter, the before picture in the collage was taken this past September, and the other halfway ones were taken today. By the way did I mention, I really, really, hate to take pictures? :)

THE BIG BANG AND EXTREME DIETING

Yesterday started off with a big bang!!! I fell down my stairs on my booty.

I was so mad!!! My kids all came running, wanting to know if I was ok. I got up went in the kitchen and started crying. My son Luke wanted to know how I fell down the steps in running shoes. Well, I will tell you how that happened. I decided last week that I was not losing weight quickly enough. So I decided to change things up. My plan was a protein shake in the morning, a protein shake in the afternoon, and a sensible supper. My shake included fruit, protein mix, fiber and that was it. I could have a snack 2 hrs after drinking this shake, something like a protein bar or yogurt. The first week I did fine. I took Saturday and Sunday off. Then Monday I went back to my plan. Well, Monday at my workout I noticed I was feeling a little off during my run. But I figured that was because I did strength training first. WRONG!!! I woke up yesterday sore and in a fog. I waited way too long to drink my shake. Let me just say something right here, I agree with all the experts out there, You should eat breakfast within an hour of waking up. So, back to my story I was already nervous, shaking, and hungry. I went upstairs to get the kids up for school, argued with Samantha for a minute about her cleaning her room, came down angry and BOOM slipped and fell right on my booty.

I was in such a fog, I couldn't even stop myself. Thank goodness I wasn't hurt worse than I was. I only have a bruise the size of Montana on my butt. A lesson to everyone out there if you are thinking about extreme diet measures, and adding working out to it. DON'T!!!! You just might end up at the bottom of your stairs!!! And by the way I had a sensible breakfast today: Oatmeal with peanut butter powder and cocoa, a chobani yogurt with pineapple. Off to do my run!!! Have a fall-free day!!! LOL 

Feeling like I ran into a wall.

Do you ever have days when you feel like the above image?? Well I did yesterday. It just seems like the more I run, the more I feel like I am running right into a wall :)!! I know this is normal and maybe I am just trying to reach my goals too fast. Like I said in the other post, I do try to keep up with Anthony but it just seems like I can't . You know the whole testosterone vs. estrogen thing. I know in my head that he has been working out a whole lot longer than me and therefore is more physically fit, but I feel like after working out for 3 years I should be further along physically. But I have to tell myself that I HAVE been only running for 2 months and I am doing pretty good. Also I got on the scale this morning and I had gained a pound!! This image shows how I felt.

 

But once I again I have to tell myself it could be because I am lifting weights and my muscles are getting bigger?

I don't know about how anyone else feels but I feel like this journey of becoming healthy and fit is one of the hardest I have ever been on. But all I can do is take each day as it comes and when I feel like I hit a wall. Just get up and climb over it as fast as I can!!!!

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

I woke up this morning to take the kids to church and I heard a strange noise outside..... SLEET!! I couldn't believe it. Yesterday it was pretty warm, around 59 degrees. Then later after I took the kids to church, I looked outside to an unbelievable sight... SNOW!!! I have been praying for snow all winter. I love a gorgeous snow fall. In other news (LOL) I had a fairly great week of running and weight lifting. Luke had me do all kinds of different workouts with the weights. He is very good at changing things up!! I told him he will be one of the trainers on the Biggest Loser Someday. He may be only seventeen (and a mama does like to brag) but man oh man ( as my dad would say) that boy knows how to train somebody. He has a God given talent, not only with training but also with his power-lifting. After all he does hold several APF titles. But I can tell you with Luke training, I never am bored. Running is coming along very well. I can now run 1.20 miles without stopping. I can actually feel myself getting stronger every time I run. I usually run on the treadmill since it has been so cold. But Friday it was very pretty outside. So I asked Anthony if he would like to run outside instead. He wanted to walk but I kept nagging and he ended up running. He let me start the pace at first but then he took over. And he KICKED my butt. The above image shows how I looked after we were done. But I do have to give him credit because I would have never ran if it wasn't for him. He challenges me everytime to do the best. I feel so good now from running and weight training. I feel like this mama can do anything!! So besides being thankful for the beautiful snow God sent, I am thankful for Luke and Anthony.