Video Games for Exercise??
Yes it’s true!! You can play your favorite video games all while getting exercise!! The weather lately has been crazy! 24 degrees some days, 70 degrees the next so since we can’t really predict the weather this year I’ve been thinking of some other alternatives for exercise. I personally like group exercise classes but if we are not members of a fitness center it can be really hard to find a place to exercise. So I’ve been doing some research about video games. It seems like almost everyone has a wii, xbox or play station. Well if you have these consoles you might look into some of these games.
1.) Zumba
2.) Punch-out!!
3.) Active Life: Outdoor Challenge
4.) Dance Dance Revolution
5.) Just Dance
6.) Wii Fit Plus
7.) Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip….works on your balance
8.) The Biggest Loser Challenge
9.) Nickelodeon Fit
10.) Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum
Give them a try!! You might also look at this article and see how exercising with video games is very comparable to hitting the gym!
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upgrade-your-life/lose-weight-playing-video-games-192328132.html
Pinterest & Your Diet!
If you aren’t already addicted to Pinterest…then you may soon be.
Or perhaps you’ve heard of “pinning” but have no idea what people are talking about.
It’s hard to explain Pinterest in its entirety, so I encourage you to play on your own. The long and short of it: follow your friends and what they like on the internet. Maybe its recipes, hair-styles, home-decor, or fun crafts. Create your own account and you can begin keeping your own “boards full of pins.” Told you it’s hard to explain.
But what does this have to do with your diet?! Well, I have posted before about the dangers of food fatigue and I think we can all relate to the feeling. Keeping fun and exciting meals and recipes in the mix is vital for weight-loss success. Since starting my Pinterest account, I have found more recipes than I’ve known what to do with. There aren’t enough dinners in a week to make everything I’d like to!
This past weekend, I tried a Zucchini Turkey Burger patty and served it with Roasted Zucchini (since I had a zucchini leftover). I was amazed at how juicy and flavorful it was! Trust me, this one is definitely “re-pin” material.
Turkey Burgers with Zucchini (featured on skinnytaste.com; courtesy of Gina’s Weight Watcher Recipes)
1.25 lbs 93% lean ground turkey
1 small zucchini, grated
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (substituting out the breadcrumbs)
1 clove garlic, grated
1 tbsp red onion, grated
salt & pepper
oil spray
1. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, zucchini, parm cheese, garlic, onion, salt & pepper. Make 5 equal patties.
2. Heat a large skillet on high heat. When hot, lightly spray with oil spray. Add burgers to the pan and reduce the heat to low. Cook one side until completely browned, then flip. Flip over a few times to prevent burning and to make sure the burgers are cooked through.
3. If grilling, clean grill well and spray with oil spray to prevent sticking
**Also, I added some extra Parmesan cheese to the top and bottom of the patties to give it some added texture. So good!
Are you hitting a plateau in your weight loss?
If you find that you are seeing the scales not moving much then you might consider testing your VO2. I always suggest at least four days per week be devoted to exercise for at least 30 minutes . If you have already been doing this you may be working against yourself or not hard enough. The Vo2 is an exercise test that last 8-12 minutes. I will have you walk on a treadmill and have you walking while I try to get a steady increase in your heart rate. I’m looking to see where you are utilizing fat as energy verse using carbohydrate. This test takes all the guess-work out of your workout! So call to make an appointment today! 405-359-2484
Slow Cooker Pork Chop with Apples & Carrots
It’s true…ANOTHER slow cooker recipe! I promise I have more variety in my recipes, but time and time again patients are more interested in something simple, easy, delicious…and preferably in a slow cooker.
So here it is, one of my all time favorite recipes: boneless pork chops with granny smith apples and baby carrots. I couldn’t tell you where this recipe originally came from, but there are several variations of it on the web. This recipe continues to be my favorite because it is so simple and takes a very short list of ingredients.
Slow Cooker Pork Chop with Apples & Carrots
4 Boneless Pork Chops
2 Large Granny Smith Apples, cut into slices
1 small bag baby carrots
Splenda
Cinnamon
1. Place apple slices on the bottom of the slow cooker, and then baby carrots.
2. Put pork chops on top of apples & carrots.
3. Sprinkle top with splenda & cinnamon (just eyeball based on your own preference)
4. Put on low for 6-8 hours (or high 3-4 hours) and enjoy!
The juice of the apples will cook up in the pork. The flavor is sweet and the pork is tender. I know you’ll love it!
Cold Weather
Well i guess winter finally decided to come! Burrr! So now what do we do for exercise? Well just because it’s cold doesn’t mean we slip exercise to the back burner! There are several things we can do, walk in place at home, interactive video games, and exercise dvds. If you have a smart phone there are exercise apps you can download that will give you exercises to do each day. When cold weather hits it’s easy to just curl up on the couch but try to exercise inside for at least 20 minutes straight every day. It will make you feel physically better as well as mentally better! And don’t forget to stretch! Something that motivates me through the winter is the fact that spring and summer are just around the corner. Now is the time to start getting the summer activity you are planning whether it’s being in the garden, taking a vacation or just feeling comfortable in clothes maybe you haven’t been in in awhile. Whatever the reason is continue to exercise daily and you’ll see the results!
New Year’s Kit! 24 Varieties of Supplements for 15% off!
The holidays are long gone. It’s true. So it’s time…out with the holidays, and in with the resolutions! Losing weight is consistently the most common New Year’s Resolution. So let us help!
Whether you are a postop patient, or just looking to lose a little extra weight, our protein supplements are delicious and great for weightloss. The New Year’s Kit includes 42 protein shakes and 28 protein bars for 15% off retail price! Several different varieties and flavors are included so you can see what you like! Click on this link to visit the New Year’s Kit on the WeightWise Estore. The kit contains:
Peach Mango Fruit Drink
Cranberry Fusion Fruit Drink
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Chicken Bouillon
Hot Cocoa Variety Pack
3 Chocolate Powder in a Bottle
2 Mocha Powder in a Bottle
1 Peach Powder in a Bottle
1 Vanilla Powder in a Bottle
15 Gram Protein Bar Variety Pack (White Box)
Lemon Meringue Bar
Chocolate Decadence Crisp Bar
Caramel Crunch Bar
WeightWise Tote Bag
If you are a WeightWise postop patient, you may have heard of our “Reboot Diet.” An aggressive two week diet to get you back into fat-burning mode and back on track with your diet. The contents of the “New Year Kit” is exactly enough product to get you through the Reboot Diet. To learn more about the format of the diet- contact stephanie.m@weightwise.com or chris.c@weightwise.com
If you are not familiar with our program, we have everything you need to reach your weight loss goals. Registered Dietitians, Exercise Physiology, Metabolic Testing, Nutritional Supplements, Support and Education, and the list goes on. Visit www.weightwise.com or call us to discuss more at 405-715-7122
Here’s to a New Year AND a New YOU!
Slow-Cooker Hickory BBQ Pork
Well the holidays may be over, but the busy schedules are not!
As I talk with patients throughout the day, I hear time and again how difficult it is to get a warm and healthy meal put together in a timely manner. Basketball games, trying to get to the gym, and finding something the whole family will eat gets overwhelming quickly. And that’s just one night…how are we to get dinner cooked 7 days a week?
You guessed it. I’m going to talk about my slow-cooker again. I know with confidence I am not the only one who feels this strongly about my favorite kitchen appliance. This girl uses hers everyday of the year! Beware: not all are bariatric friendly….but many of them are!
Today’s featured slow-cooker recipe comes from Kraft Foods (who has recently updated their website- it looks great!) They have pages full of recipes just for slow-cookers…so lose some time looking through those.
Slow-Cooker Hickory BBQ Pork (adapted from kraftfoods.com)
Boneless pork shoulder (2 lbs) – trimmed of fat
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 cup hickory smoked bbq sauce
2 small onions, diced
1. Place meat in slow cooker; top with onion soup mix, onions, and bbq sauce. Cover with lid.
2. Cook on low 8 to 10 hours. (or high 4 to 5 hours)
3. Remove meat from slow cooker, remove any remaining fat and discard. Chop meat into small pieces or shred with fork. Return to slow cooker and coat evenly with sauce.
4. Serve and enjoy! Top with reduced fat cheese if desired. Yum!
Rewards Points at the WeightWise Estore!
Did you know you can earn reward points on all online orders to use for future purchases? It’s true!
For every $1 spent, you earn 1 point.
Once you reach 50 points, you get $5 in rewards!
Go to the MyRewards section under Account settings to redeem your points!!!
Shop from home and get all your supplements to start that New Years goal!
www.estore.weightwise.com
