Look 10 Years Younger!

People have been recently telling me I look younger than my age (25) when I have been told for YEARS that I have looked and acted older than I am. Say whattt?? Totally new territory for me. So when doing some digging, I found out that there are some body tricks to help you stay lookin' young!

Posture

Hunching over is a sign of weak ab and neck muscles- and can add 8 years to your appearance. Standing tall has an instant de-age technique. The trick? Get up more! Walking engages those same muscles that need to be strengthened, improving your posture. Walk to another floor to use the restroom at work. Walk to work or the grocery store if you can. Take 5-10 minutes every other hour or so to get up and take a lap around whatever building you're in!

Abs

Too many crash diets can result in a more saggy midriff. It wears your skin's elasticity when you gain and lose weight repeatedly. Throw away those BS juice detox diets and simply log your meals and exercise in a journal to see where you need more improvement!

Legs

You must keep these babies strong! When you see flabby legs, it is a sign that you are losing muscle mass and wimpy muscles lower your endurance which in turn makes you weak and looking 20 years older! Add a couple 15-20 minute strength sessions a week to your normal workout and you'll be showing off those gorgeous stems for years to come!

Eyes

Computer screens give off shortwave light which can cause dry eyes and blurry vision. Not to mention that when you squint to check your twitter or facebook feed, it can lead to premature crow's feet, making you look 10 years older. Yikes! The trick? Foods that are high or rich in lutein, like eggs. This power antioxidant helps your eyes process those shortwave lights better!

Teeth

Check out your smile in a mirror lately? A grin with nothing but teeth could mean your gums are receding- aging your face and putting you at risk for periodontal disease. Womp womp. Root canals are something no one wants to go through. Brush gently and floss twice daily (pressing too hard can wear down gums!).

Hands

Your hands can appear 10 years older than they are if you are not applying sunscreen daily! Try using a moisturizer with sunscreen to help avoid sun spots and keep your skin glowing!


There you have it. No one wants to age early, right ladies? So now when people tell me I look younger, I take it as a compliment! Hopefully these tricks can help you looking younger and help boost your confidence to walk on your own two feet...



Until the next step bloggers...

Foodie Penpal Reveal!

This Foodie Penpal thing just keeps getting better and better. I am able to "meet" new friends and getting a package filled with goodies isn't so bad either! It is interesting to see where the different packages come from- all over the country!

This month, Carolynne sent me some quality items. The first thing I noticed about her box was the beautiful stationary letter on the top of the box. In it on a lavender plant stationary was a handwritten note and even one of her favorite recipes that she loves to make (what a great idea!) Of course tearing the box open is always a must when it comes to Foodie Penpals...

Out came all of these goodies! The first thing I noticed was the Guacamole mix. I don't think you can ever go wrong with guacamole. I am in the process of having many get togethers at my house so this little baby will definitely come in handy!

The rosemary potato soup...has anyone ever seen this combo?? I have yet to try it but I was very close to ripping it open and drinking it out of the carton. It sounds delicious!

Carolynne must have ESP and know that I like spicy foods because she added Red Chili Hot Sauce so I can have that extra kick to my dinners! I love putting this kind of sauce on fish or make my own stir fry! Thank youuuuu Carolynne!!

Also included in my package? Coconut cashews...YES! I love snacking and these bad boys were gone instantly! Woohoo!

All in all? Another amazing Foodie Penpal success! Want to be a part of the group? Head on over to Lindsay's blog The Lean Green Bean and fill out a participation form! Believe me, you will not be sorry!


Want to see what I sent SallyAnn? Head on over to her blog to see her write-up of my package to her!






Until the next step bloggers... 

June Foodie Penpals Reveal!

This weekend has been crazy! I am still getting back into the swing of being on the night shift again at work after a nice long 3 month "vacation"...this weekend was no exception to the madness! Being awake for 28 hours, not being able to sleep, working, dogs getting sick, etc. AHHH! However, it is one of my favorite times because I get to reveal yet another awesome Foodie Penpal!

This month, the lovely Lisa over at I live for coffee... (I mean come on, she had me at her blog name!) sent me what she considered "quality over quantity" this month...and boy did she!

Lisa lives in Utah and they must have crazy good organic treats and Farmers Market because that is exactly what she sent me!

First up was the Pop Art popcorn...Rosemary Truffle- how original! Just a touch of the lovely herb with one of my favorite snacks can make any girl's heart melt! Lisa- I hope you get the chance to try a bag sometime soon! (And it was a big bag...Ok ok, it was easy for me to eat almost the whole bag but I controlled myself...)

The plum jelly she sent was made from locally grown plums and lavender...a HEAVENLY mix! It has gone great with low fat cream cheese and whole grain toast...YUM! I have also made a couple of PB&J sandwiches which make them mouth-watering as well!

The honey (Lisa's favorite part of her sent package and one of her favorites!) is made thanks to pumpkin blossoms-which help pollinate their bees! Who knew?! I love honey in hot tea at night and in my Tone It Up Bombshell Spell so this little baby will come in handy!

She also sent me a small jar of homemade raspberry jam made with Utah raspberries, orange zest, chia seeds, and honey! How did she know raspberry was my favorite?! Utah did well! Thanks so much Lisa!!

I sent Laura her first ever Foodie Penpal package! You can see what I sent her here!



What is a Foodie Penpal?

Great question!


Here’s a detailed explanation of the program:
-On the 5th of the month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you can choose to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month.
- Foodie Penpals is open to US, Canadian residents & UK residents. Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We’ve determined things might get too slow and backed up if we’re trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I’m going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada!
***If you’re in the UK, please contact Carol Anne from This Is Rock Salt at rocksalt@thisisrocksalt.com to get involved!

If you are interested in signing up and getting goodies like I do every month (and meeting new people!) head on over to see Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean and sign up!





Here it to a new month full of healthy eating, smart decisions, fun and adventure...on our own two feet...





Until the next step bloggers...

May Foodie Penpal Reveal!

It's that time again! Come see what Jessica from Jessica is Baking sent me for the month of May! I am super excited to try the healthy fruit strip...I remember diving into a box of Fruit Roll-Ups as a kid and now I can enjoy one of my favorite past times in a healthy way!

Look at the cute card she sent me along with all these goodies!

It's like she knows me or something!! ;)

Who knew Kashi made healthy cookies?!

Is it bad that I jumped right into these??

My favorite item in my package!

I love my new "on the go" snack!

Thank you so much Jessica! You gave me some favorites and some new things to try and I loved everything! Two thumbs up!


This month, I sent Kimberly her foodie penpals package and I let her have a FIESTA!! Check it out!



Sign Me Up!

Want to be a part of this awesome monthly group?? It is a great way to meet new friends and try some new favorites! Head on over to Lindsay's blog to fill out a participation form! Here are some general details on the Foodie Penpals program!


On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.

• You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!
• The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
• You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
• Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month.
• Foodie Penpals is open to US & Canadian residents. Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We’ve determined things might get too slow and backed up if we’re trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I’m going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada!

There you have it folks. Another great FPP month in the books! Each month just gets better and better and the group keeps growing! I hope everyone is having a great week and ready to take on the weekend ahead...on your own two feet...








Until the next step bloggers...

Then and Now!

Don't you hate it when your favorite food goes on a "blacklist" for weight loss or it gets bashed in the news for having a salmonella outbreak?? Well, low and behold, many of our favorite foods are making a comeback and are just waiting to be consumed!

Eggs

Then: The yolks were considered to skyrocket your cholesterol.
Now: Although a single yolk contains nearly the recommended daily limit for cholesterol, it is the most nutrient-rich part of the egg! It is packed with zinc, iron, vitamins A and D, and choline (which help you ladies reduce your chances of breast cancer!) In addition, the yolk contains almost half of an egg's protein, which is why whites-only omelets are not quite as satisfying!
Bring it Back: Hard boiled eggs make great go-to snacks with staying power- and at only 70 calories, who can beat that?? Just be sure to be conscious of companions that cause that caloric intake to increase such as cheese, bacon, and butter.

Peanut Butter

Then: Some people saw this glory food as being high in fat and calories.
Now: Sure, PB contains 16g of fat per 2 Tbl serving, but it is the heart-healthy, monounsaturated kind. It helps appetite regulation without a question about it! A recent study found that people who remained on a diet that included this amazing staple for 18 months lost an average of 9 lbs!
Bring it Back: Don't go for the "reduced-fat" selections at your grocery store- they are often heavily sweetened to replace the lost flavor. Stick with the "au-natural" and watch the portion control. Have a hard time with portion control? Buy the individual packets (like Justin's) for 200 or fewer calories!

Red Meat

Then: This food has a bad rep for heart disease and wide waistlines.
Now: New research suggests that "sat fat" (saturated fat) within moderation, may not be as evil as we make it out to be. We all know it is full of protein but it can also help you gain metabolically active muscles, which burn more calories at rest than fat.
Bring it Back: The cut of beef is key. Extra lean choices, such as sirloin, filet, and eye of round roast have fewer than 5 grams of total fat and 2 grams of "sat fat" per 3oz. serving. Avoid anything labeled "prime" as these cuts tend to be fatty. Go for 3 or 4oz. portions and then grill, roast, or bake it!

Bananas

Then: Bananas used to be carbs that were considered to pack on the pounds and be higher in calories than most fruits.
Now: These delicious treats contain a type of fiber known as resistant starch that your body cannot absorb so it fills you up temporarily without the risk of filling you out. Also, research has linked the resistant starch to an increase in post meal fat burning!
Bring it Back: Choose a greener banana; once it turns yellow, the starch inside has broken down and is no longer resistant to digestion. If you don't like firm bananas, toss it in a blender to make your favorite smoothie! Make sure to take a big whiff before sipping though; research shows that the smell helps reduce appetite!

Coconut Oil

Then: It is high in saturated fat, therefore it was banished by dieters!
Now: It is actually infested with medium-chain triglycerides, fats that can be metabolized faster than the long-chain ones found in others like sunflower oil. The body prefers to use them for energy so it rarely gets stored. Two tablespoons a day can fuel a reduction in abdominal obesity while helping to elevate HDL (good cholesterol)!
Bring it Back: Because it is calorie dense (about 120 calories per tablespoon) you still want to watch your intake. Swap other oils you may use daily- like corn or vegetable- for virgin or extra virgin coconut oil!

Bananas, eggs, and peanut butter are some of my favorite foods. I probably consume them almost every day. The great thing about it is, if you throw them all in a blender (smaller portions) you can have a protein-packed smoothie in the morning and you will be full until lunch and ready to work out those muscles!

So there you have it...our favorite foods are making their comeback into our kitchens and back into our hearts. I am excited to bring these staple items back into my diet and back into my daily living...on my own two feet...






Until the next step bloggers...

Upper Body Day!

Ok so if you checked out my latest check-in video yesterday, you would know that I am back in the gym (finally!) after 7 weeks of recovering after surgery. Even though I can only do the elliptical bike as far as my foot is concerned, that doesn't stop me from doing upper body!

So today, I thought I would share with you all my workout for today:

• Seated DB shoulder press (works shoulders and triceps)- 3 sets of 10 reps
• Skull-crushers, which I will superset with narrow grip bench press (works chest and triceps)- 3 sets of 10 reps for each exercise)
• DB lateral raises (works shoulders)- 3 sets of 10 reps each
• Cable chest flyes (works the chest)- 3 sets of 10 reps each
• Rear delt cable flyes (works the shoulders and back)- 3 sets of 10 reps each
• Wide-grip lat pulldown (works the back)- 3 sets of 10 reps each
• Reverse grip pull down (works back and biceps)- 3 sets of 10 reps each
• Alternating DB curls (works biceps)- 3 sets of 10 reps each
• Bicycle crunches-3 sets of 25 reps each
• Basic crunches- 3 sets of 25 reps each

Make sure when you work out a specific part of your body (upper body or lower body) you work all the muscles! Superset your workouts to get more of a calorie burn and toning!

Hope everyone has a great Hump Day...on your own two feet...




Until the next step bloggers...

Tone It Up Meet Up!!...Literally!

Ok so let me back-track a bit and start from the beginning...

For those of you who don't know, some local ladies and I found each other on Twitter through Tone It Up, two trainers based out of the L.A. area that work hard to promote health and beauty towards women! We called our group BmoreToned just for kicks and just between us but the name stuck and spread, as well as our group!

If you look back on previous blog posts, you will find we have social nights, run races together, workouts every Friday morning (among other times during the week), and just generally motivate and inspire each other to live active, healthy lifestyles.

Much to our surprise was on Thursday afternoon when an email came out to the group which was titled, "EXCITING NEWS!! " What did the email say? Kate and Jami were informing us that the lovely ladies of Tone It Up, Karena and Katrina, would be in Baltimore the next afternoon and wanted to meet all of us! I may have screamed out a little, others wrote back in all caps with an infinite number of exclamation points, smiling from ear to ear, etc. Bottom line? We could not contain our excitement to meet the reason we all became friends!

Friday afternoon- THE TIME HAS COME!!! Meeting at a central location, we met two of the sweetest (and GORGEOUS!!) women ever. We were so giddy, we probably said some weird or crazy things...I know I did. After a small photo shoot, which included some casual planking, lots of chit-chatting, and hugs, our dreams were made complete!

We hope you Tone It Up ladies come back to Baltimore with more time to enjoy the city and hopefully we can all get a workout in! It was so amazing to meet you both and we can't wait to see what the future holds for us as a group together! Can't wait to see you all again! Thank you for all that you do!

Thanks Kate and Jami for the pictures!

Hope you all have a great (and healthy!) weekend...on your own two feet...




Until the next step bloggers...