Slim by the Summer #5 - When You Gotta Go!

I found an awesome linky to help me and anyone else who is interested in joining in. Just head on over to Raising Reagan to join in the fun! Each week there's a theme, I love themes! CLICK HERE! See previous weeks and my progress HERE.
 

So this week's theme is......

Great topic hu?! This is probably the one thing that keeps America fat! Hubby and I were just talking about the topic this weekend saying that we know a lot of families who would probably lose 10 pounds by not eating out so much. It's just so easy to just go out to eat isn't it?!

I'm huge on saving money! Each week on my main blog, The Mami Blog, I plan our weeks menu and I also do weekly match-ups for our local grocery store. I HATE PAYING RETAIL! Wether it's food, groceries, clothing, housewares, etc. Anywho, so if we do go out to eat, usually hubby's decision, I grab my coupon binder and give suggestions for places that I have a coupon for. But sometimes it is only for a FREE Appetizer or FREE Dessert (not the best coupons), lol But we do like to try new places and it's hard because you don't know how they cook their food and if it will fit into your "diet."


Here are some tips that I use when we eat out

1. Try not to!
2. Avoid fast food!
3. Don't do buffet
4. Ask for your food to be steamed
5. Drink water!
6. Share a plate
7. Avoid pasta dishes
8. No appitizer
9. Add a salad
10. Eat Fruit

That's it! 10 tips are pretty simple... When all else fails just try to make a good choice. Got any questions about any of the tips? Drink a full glass of water before you eat, that way you don't eat as much. Pasta dishes usually have tons of butter, which is delicious, but yeah, no! lol Add a salad to your meal and ask if you can get the dressing on the side so you can control how much you use. And instead of fries or chips, ask if you can have some fresh fruit instead!

It was my mom's birthday this past weekend and everyone got a soda or a mixed beverage... NOT ME! I got some nice cold WATER!

February 19 Stats:

Beginning Weight (January 2013): 186
Prepreganancy (2004): 135
Postpartum (3rd Baby, August 2012): 172
Goal Weight: 135
Last week: (Feb 5): 181.2
Current Weight: *Weigh in tomorrow*

40 Days of Water, Challenge Accepted

I attended a Mamavation Facebook Party today! and joined in a great challenge and cause! Usually during then lenten season, we give something up to better ouselves but usually really don't think how it's going to affect others. Well, this year we have the option to greatly improve someone elses life!

You can read more information about this non-profit and register HERE. The point of the challenge is to not just drink only water for 40 days (you will eat, of course), but to save the money you would have otherwise spent on drinks (happy hour!) and donate the money you saved to Blood : Water Mission!

Another great resource to check out is the 40 Days of Water Journal! You can download it and reflect. Each day is has a question or just something to think about.

I plan on doing an update every week or so. Even if you don't want to or cannot donate, drinking water for 40 days would do you a great amount of good!

Will you join me?!

Slim by the Summer #4 - Healthy Tuna

I found an awesome linky to help me and anyone else who is interested in joining in. Just head on over to Raising Reagan to join in the fun! Each week there's a theme, I love themes! CLICK HERE!
 

So this week's theme is......

HEALTHY RECIPES

 I love cooking. I have a menu plan that I post and link up every week on my main blog, The Mami Blog, if ya'll wanna check it out. That menu is for lunch and aren't always so healthy. I cook for my whole family and enough to have leftovers for lunch the next day for my mom (yes, we live with my mom). 

Tip: I always use a smaller plate to help serve myself a small portion!

So.... I wanted to share a family favorite with ya'll. We are Catholic and this week is the start of Lent (The period of 40 weekdays that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence.) and that is one memory I have... Grandma slaving in the kitchen, making everyone "Albondigas!" They are simply, tuna patties! With an average of 75 calories, it beats a 500 calorie burger anyday, right!

There is so many add-ins that can make everyone different. But here is my recipe (not my grandmas)

Albondigas (tuna patties)

Ingredients: 
2 cans tuna
hand full of crushed crackers (or 1/2 cups bread crumbs)
1 egg
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp salt
dash of old bay seasoning (or two)
Cooking spray or 1 tsp oil per pattie (2-4 at a time) 
Plate, covered with paper towels

Directions:
Heat pan. Mix all ingredients together. Add oil and then spoon some onto the pan and flatten with spatula. Fry 2-4 minutes, depending on it's thickness. Flip and continue cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes. Remove and place on top of paper towels to drain.
Serves 4-6 people

Serve as an open sandwhich, ontop of a salad, with pasta or like a burger!

Here are some photos I found via google to show you how you can mix it up. Next time you are in the mood for having a burger, try a tuna burger instead!

Tuna And Veggie

Asian Tuna Burgers

Mix it up with Salmon Patties

Source: simplyrecipes.com via Cinella on Pinterest

Tuna Bacon Cakes

 

February 11 Stats:

Beginning Weight (January 2013): 186
Prepreganancy (2004): 135
Postpartum (3rd Baby, August 2012): 172
Goal Weight: 135
Last week: (Feb 5): 181.2
Current Weight: 180.2! (-5.8lbs)
Vlog Update
 

Mid-week Update

Ugh... check out this POST on my main blog.... so yeah. I'm on my period and I just hate working out during that time. Last month hubby was like, just work out! I was like, "Yeah, NO!" I know a lot of women do and promote exercise during your cycle, I just don't feel comfortable... So. yeah, more housework for me. I also plan on going to Target today, and it's in a big shopping strip, so I wanna walk down to all the stores, probably a good mile, back and forth.

Hope ya'll have a great weekend. And come back Monday for weigh in!

Slim by the Summer #3 - Change

I found an awesome linky to help me and anyone else who is interested in joining in. Just head on over to Raising Reagan to join in the fun! Each week there's a theme, I love themes! CLICK HERE!
 

So this week's theme is......

One thing I NEED to CHANGE about my DIET?!

Personally, I have always hated the word DIET! It was a way to just tell myself, "You're not fat." I always just told myself I have to get healthy. And I have gotten healthy once time before. Yeah, there was high school, I woke up at 5am to exercise with Denise Austin for years! I didn't have to do it everyday. I just did it because it gave me confidence, which we all need in high school, and it helped me stay thin. The other time was when I was in my mid-20's and hubby and I wanted to have baby #2! We could not get pregnant and all the doctors kept saying I had to lose weight, and all I heard was, "YOU'RE FAT!" Which was probably true! After losing 20lbs, bam, we got pregnant! So, when I think DIET, I think FAT!

So, now that I'm trying to lose weight, I know I'm not like oober fat, but I don't feel "normal" either. I found this great article at MedicineNet.com about "Change your lifestyle, not just your Diet Plan" and it gives you questions about what you are doing now and what you should be doing, especially if you want to keep the weight off! It's not the best "survey" but it's great to give you an idea and help you think about what and why you want to lose weight. And, I know how and how I like to lose weight.....

If I'm challenged or have a goal, I can do it. 

I guess the one thing I have to change is CONFIDENCE. I have always thought and said that I look horid in work-out attire cus you can see my "tire." You know what I mean right? But watching the Super Bowl Half-Time Show last night and looking at Beyonce and her flaws made me think that achieving a curvy, sexy and fit bot is totally doable. Sure, she might have had 24-hour help and personal chef's, nutritionists, trainers and MORE, doesn't mean that every-day moms who have an innate ability to mother (not saying she's not motherly), magically refill dressers, cabinets and refrigerators can't do the same!

Photograph by: Getty Images, The Associated Press

AM I RIGHT?

January  28 Stats:
Beginning Weight (January 2013): 186
Prepreganancy (2004): 135
Postpartum (3rd Baby, August 2012): 172
Goal Weight: 135
Last week: (Jan 1/29): 181.2
Current Weight:181.2

Source: masikawa.tumblr.com via Avalon on Pinterest

Slim by the Summer #2 - It Works for Me

I found an awesome linky to help me and anyone else who is interested in joining in. Just head on over to Raising Reagan to join in the fun! Each week there's a theme, I love themes! CLICK HERE!
So this week's theme is FITNESS ROUTINES! I think this is a great one cus  you can see all the different things we're doing to help in our weight loss. 

I got a pretty good routine and have been doing it for the past few weeks and it works pretty good. I'm a stay-at-home mom and can't really do it at the same time everyday, but when i have some free time or make some free time, I do it.

MY FITNESS ROUTINE:
First thing in the morning I put on my pedometer. I use a cheap one that I got for free in the mail from Nature's Bounty. 

Then in the early afternoon I do the the BeFitin90 Workout for the day, you can check it out HERE. I'm on day 12!

Of course, then it's my chores and making lunch. By the time I'm done with that it's time to go pick up my oldest daughter from school.

Sometime between then and after dinner I get in some extra exercising from the Wii. I switch it up daily between Just Dance and Zumba. 
-----------------------

EXTRA:
I have also been giving myself weekly challenges and I post updates on my Youtube Channel. You can check it out HERE. So be sure to check out my channel tomorrow to see how this week went and what my new challenge will be. Feel free to join me if you have a channel or not or make up your own challenge. I love challenges, they keep me motivated! Watch me work-out... I'm doing some of the BeFit exercises in the video I posted on my Channel. You can skip to the end....

Oh and since Jan 1st, I've been giving myself weekly challenges that has to do with weight loss or being healthy. I am vlogging about that. And you can see Resolution Update #5, where I talk about Slim by the Summer, HERE.

-----------------------

And that is pretty much it! There are days in the BeFitin90 workout that is a rest-day and that's when I just do some random workouts or some dancing with the Wii again or take my girls to the park. I'm also a couponer and every Wednesday morning I go to our local grocery store (HEB) to scope out the deals for the week and such. The store isn't that big, but I do make it a goal to walk around the store, or go across the street to the city park to do some walking.


January  28 Stats:
Beginning Weight (January 2013): 186
Prepreganancy (2004): 135
Postpartum (3rd Baby, August 2012): 172
Goal Weight: 135
Last week: (Jan 1/22): 182.8
Current Weight:181.2 (Monday, but don't officially weigh in till Tuesday

Wooowhooo, down 4.8lbs for the year!

Up Late...

Random blog.... This week was pretty good and today I just wanted to share that we went to a local event to celebrate the birthday of a wildlife refuge and walked some of the trails. Spent a good three hours there. We even went up the observation towers and they had tiny steep steps. That was a good burn. Of course, I couldn't go too fast cus I was babywearing annaleah (my 6 mo old). Yeah, babywear! So the whole time I was walking it was like I was carrying an extra 20 pounds! Extra calorie burn!

Hope ya'll have a great Sunday and come back to see how much weight I've lost on Monday for weigh in!

WHERE IS YOUR FAV PLACE TO WALK?