"Bloomin' All Over!" - Week 13

"Bloomin' All Over!" - Week 13

Here's week 13!  I am very happy but I didn't have much progress but then again, progress is progress.  I am now down 23 pounds and I am so happy!  

Enjoy this week's talk and I will see you next week.

Be Happy❤Be Healthy!

Show Off Your Petals!

     I found this video on Youtube.  It's the best way to visualize yourself for the Spring and Summer.  As you all know, the season's not quite cooperating and it's difficult to prepare for the warm and hot days that are sure to come.  Rest assured, the season will change and will probably be blazing.  That means shorts and skirts to help us look good and feet great, right?

      Well, in order to make that happen, we have to be happy with our bodies.  I don't know about you but I am still NOT happy with my body.  I've lost weight and inches but I still don't feel very pretty.  I have some work to do but you know what has always helped me feel good?  Clothes!

     In this week's vlog, I will speak on how I will bloom with the change of the season.  I will tell you what I do and where I go to feel better about the seasonal change and how to morph from the bud to the flower or the caterpillar to the butterfly!

Be Happy❤Be Healthy!

"Splash!" - Week 12

"Splash!" - Week 12

     In Week 12 I discuss water play and the benefits of said activity.  I really love to play in the pool here at my complex.  Number One, it's heated with a hot tub on the side.  I have access to a sauna as well.  Secondly, when the weather is really nice, I can swim in the outdoor pool!  

     I hope you enjoy the vlog and find a way to get in on one of the best forms exercise on the planet!

Be Happy❤Be Healthy!

My First 5K Marathon- I Am Registered!

Graceland Holiday

The Hunt Family Had Fun In Memphis, Tennessee!

     Okay, so I wasn't looking forward to Graceland yet again but for some reason, adding a few more siblings and another kid made it much better than before.  Not saying I didn't have fun the first time but it really did made for the beginning of Spring Break for us all!

     My husband is one of ten children with him being #9 and they never took a family holiday together.  There were simply too many of them for it to happen.  Some of them have since grown up their children have children- with some still older than me!  They are giving their family what they didn't have, so when we all decided to take this trip to start off Spring Break, it sounded like fun.  The thing is, we went just last year.  All of us had been except for my sister-in-law Lourdes on the far right.  Well, we made it official and packed up as of Saturday.

     We found that our favorite Courtyard Marriott had revamped the place and it was marvelous and the rooms were just as we liked them: simple and very affordable.  We had a nice indoor pool (unheated) though.  I've been spoiled at home and need heat in my play water but it was still fun for the boys.  We also took the boys to the Children's Museum of Memphis, walked Beale Street and had good food.

     Speaking of food, I didn't over-do anything.  I had so much fun and we walked so much that I think I lost anything I could have gained!  I got in my 3 miles of walking everyday and I even did my C25K training PLUS all of the walking we did at Graceland, Beale St and the museum.  I never got the tight feeling in my clothing and I didn't wear myself out.  

     All in all, my holiday was grand and I feel super.  I didn't get to weigh in though, so I will just upload the vlog and then weigh in next Sunday.  Hopefully it'll be awesome again.  Well, I hope you enjoy some of the pics I uploaded and remember to...

Be Happy❤Be Healthy!

L2R: Scott, me, Pat, Randy, Dave,Lourdes, Patrick & Joshua Hunt

Joshua loves Mommy's kisses!

My brother-n-law, Pat

My boys: Joshua and Scott

Recipe Wednesday! 3/14/2012

TODAY'S RECIPE: English Cheddar Chickpea Patties

     This was a great lunch for me!  I am a huge fan of the chickpea, or as it's properly known: The Garbanzo Bean!  It's full of protein, making it a valued staple for vegetarians.  I put a spin on the idea of making it into a patty because I wanted to enjoy my favorite Trader Joe's cheese with it.

     As you see in my second bubble, I used English Cheddar Cheese with caramelized onions.  It's so good that it should be illegal.  You can find it at any Trader Joe's and it's not expensive at all.  Whenever I want to treat myself to cheese, this one is the shizzniz!

     Not a lot was added to this dish.  There were probably more items added to the Green Giant Digestive Health veggies I ate than the patty itself.  The recipe made four nice sized patties and they taste great.  The cheese added gives the edges a nice crisp that really makes the taste.  You have to cook on low though.  If you cook too high, it will definitely burn and you don't want the taste of burned cheese to your meal.

 As you see, it's not a bad deal and you are getting a great source of fiber and protein.  I also love that the sodium is low- one of my focuses for blood pressure control.  I can tell you all that the chickpeas/garbanzo beans are like tofu.  You add whatever spices you like and it takes on the taste.  

     Try this recipe, you can find it on www.sparkpeople.com and look under their recipe tab.  You will find so many!  If you'd like to receive a copy of the recipe, please  click on this link: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=2034618  I hope you try it and see just how wonderful it is, whether you like vegetarian meals or not.  I know you won't regret it! 

Be Happy❤Be Healthy!

Water 'Robics!

~Water 'Robics~

     I'm a true California kid.  I'm also a government brat, so I've been around a lot of water.  I'm not as close as I'd like to (living in the Mid-West now) but I have to be near it as much as possible for sanity's sake!  It's ingrained into my spirit. I have to play in water- even a kiddie pool!  Nothing makes me happier other than being on a beach.  Well, till I get back for a visit, I needed a substitute.



      That's where aquatics came into play.  Being blessed with a complex that provides both a heated, indoor pool, sauna and an outdoor pool, I'm able to satiate that thirst to be engulfed in water!  I get to play anytime my heart so-desires!  Then something caused me to waver...

     Well, since being in the weight-loss game again, I have to say that I'm a tad more conscientious about my pool attire.  Spring is coming and soon everyone is going to out in their:

 and I'll be looking like➽

     I know that this suite is cute to look at and all but seriously, when girls are looking like they've got hard-bodies I don't want to be near them!  I'm bulbous and now flabby and nobody wants to see that!  I don't want to have to hide in the water until it's been deserted.  And I don't want to look like that person, when they climb out and the water is pulling everything down...You know what I'm talking about, don't you?

     I remember when I was pregnant with my now 7-year old son; I wanted to exercise and beat the gestational diabetes I'd developed.  I also wanted my girlish figure to return; it had somehow eluded me.  I opted for an aquatics class and was so thrilled!  Then I realized that I'd made a mistake.  The class I signed up for was a Senior class.  I was the youngest one in there!  I was like, "Holy smoke, I'm gonna hit this class with no work-out at all!  They can't handle what I'm looking for!"  LOL  Oh was I sadly mistaken!

     Those ladies kicked my butt every week!  It really did a job on me and I always left feeling great and toned- although even then, my bathing suit was ugly next to some of theirs!  Those gals were hotties even up in age!

     My thing with this blog is, who cares what you look like in the true scheme of things.  We're going to look a certain way until we get to that certain way we want to look.  Who cares if your belly sticks out?  When you've reached your goal, that belly won't even be there.  The most important thing is, you're doing what you need to do to burn calories, tone muscle and enrich your life that much more.

     This week's Sunday vlog is titled "Splash".  Enjoy a walk through reasons why water aerobics is great for you and have fun with a few laughs!

Take care and remember to...

Be Happy❤Be Healthy!