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One Year SHAPE Magazine subscription for only $3.99--Hurry!

Copy & Paste the link below to get your One Year subscription to SHAE mag for only $2.99.   This is an awesome deal!!!   If for some reason it does not show it as $3.99...enter "SHAPE" as a promo code.  YAY!

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Happy 1st Birthday!

This blog is officially ONE YEAR OLD!!!!   Thanks for everyone that has supported the blog with comments, suggestions & feedback.   Here's to another great year!  :)

Rethink the New Year's Resolution!

"It's time to rethink your image- of the New Year's Resolution.

Too often, I hear my friends talking about how they plan to start living healthier after the first of the year. But they're putting off their healthy-living goals to the point where they may be setting themselves up for failure: a 2009 study from the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom found that more than 75 percent of New Year's resolution followers gave up. So who had the success stories? The people who broke down their goals into small, achievable steps.

Your life isn't an experiment or a fantasy-it's an investment in your future. You've heard it a million times: If you fuel yourself with junk and bad habits, you won't have the reserves to draw on for energy and good health. Consider each day an opportunity to invest in good habits, so you'll have stamina and great health to withdraw. You can't lose. Who wants to sit at home while the rest of the gang goes out to play?

And it's not just all about you. Do you want to be the parent or grandparent who sits on the sidelines, or the one who creates lasting memories for your kids or grandchildren by riding a bicycle right alongside them? Today, you can make your move so the dream of a long, active life becomes a reality.

Here are seven ways to push the reset button on your healthy habits-starting now. Even if you're already on a healthy track, there's always room for improvement.

1. Sleep It Off.  No, not your New Year's Eve hangover. Your sluggish metabolism. A 2009 study from the University of Chicago found that people who don't get a full night's sleep are more likely to gain weight and have more difficulty losing body fat when they are dieting.  

Sleep experts say the most effective way to improve your sleep is to stick to a regular bedtime and regular wake-up time-even on the weekends. Ideally, your bedroom should be dark, cool and quiet. And move distracting, light-generating electronics like computers and TV sets out of your sleeping zone.

2. Drink Smarter. Ditch the conventional wisdom that your daily fluid intake should only consist of water. Drink juice, green tea or coffee if you want to-but be mindful of the calories. A fizzy Vitamin-C powder added to water may satisfy a soda urge. And branch out-I'm a huge fan of freshly-juiced green drinks made from spinach and kale. Note: You are not allowed to knock it until you try it.

3. Lose the hidden pounds?  We can't underestimate the importance of elimination. To keep your colon healthy, increase your fiber intake to 25 grams a day. I'm also a fan of probiotics for regularity and increased vitality, and downing a fiber drink (yes, those) can actually help your body break down the fat in fat cells.

4. Make It A 5-Veggie Day.  Every day. And get creative with it: If the kale juice seems unappealing, steam them and add a splash of olive oil to a batch (or some collard greens), and you'll quickly change your tune. The darkest, leafy greens help keep your bones strong, so don't skimp.

5. Shrug Off Sugar.  Every time I cut back on refined sugars, my energy level rises and stays there. It's easy to fall into the trap of grabbing a sugary snack for a quick boost, but the crash that follows is never fun. Simple substitutions like choosing a piece of fruit over a glass of juice or sparkling water over soda can do wonders for your mood, energy levels, and waistline: A study of more than 50,000 nurses found that women who had just one sugary soda or glass of juice a day weighed more than those who drank less than one a month.

6. Grab Different Grains. So many people have gluten sensitivities that wreak havoc on their digestive systems. Not every food that contains the word "wheat" is a great choice for everyone.   Choose purer grain choices like steel-cut oat meal, quinoa and brown rice.  And don't be afraid to mix it up a bit, instead of using bread for sandwiches, wrap your lunch up in large lettuce leaves.  You'll love the crisp, fresh flavor. 

7. Shake It Up. I rarely travel without a blender, because protein shakes are a cornerstone of my daily diet. I like the Hamilton Beech single serving blender that has a convenient travel lid, then I add a protein powder that's low in sugar and mix it with frozen berries, soy, low-fat, or almond milk, some flaxseed oil, and swap it out for at least one meal a day.  Another option is to seek out a great local juice bar for your shakes, either way it's a delightful breakfast, post-workout snack, or sweet-tooth-satisfier."

I hope these give you some great ideas how to recommit to your health in 2011.  Don't forget to take it a month at a time so you don't end up being one of those New Year's people who only focuses on results every January!

Have a healthy and active New Year!

~Mindy Buxton--Health/Fitness Coach~

Merry Christmas to you!!

I would like to wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS & a happy/healthy NEW YEAR!!!!  :)

Arctic Chocolate Delight

Scoopy Arctic Chocolate Delight --> PER SERVING (1/2 recipe, 1 bowl): 162 calories, 2.5g fat, 115mg sodium, 33g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 16.5g sugars, 0.5g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 4* Grab a spoon, leave your mittens, and get ready for a chilly excursion to the bottom of your dessert bowl.... YEE-HAAAA!
	Ingredients: 2 cups Cool Whip Free, thawed One 25-calorie packet hot cocoa mix (like Swiss Miss Diet or Nestlé Fat Free) 1 standard-sized peppermint candy cane, lightly crushed, divided Directions: In a medium bowl, combine Cool Whip with cocoa mix. Mix thoroughly, until uniform in color. Gently stir in half of the crushed candy cane. Divide mixture between 2 small bowls. Evenly top each bowl with remaining crushed candy cane. Freeze for 1 to 2 hours. Enjoy! MAKES 2 SERVINGS HG FYI: The fat in this recipe comes from the trace amounts in each serving of the Cool Whip.

HG's Candyland Peppermint Pie

Mint Condition! 

Combining the seasonal goodness of peppermint with the year-round goodness of chocolate, this pie is AMAZING. Warning: If you alert your holiday guests that this creamy treat is low in fat and calories, they might fall over and knock down some of your decorations.
Ingredients:
Crust
4 sheets (16 crackers) chocolate graham crackers
2 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown) 

Filling
1/2 cup fat-free sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup fat-free milk
1 small (4-serving) box Jell-O Sugar Free Fat Free Vanilla Instant pudding mix
3 cups Cool Whip Free, thawed
3 tbsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 standard-sized peppermint candy canes, lightly crushed, divided
Optional topping: Fat Free Reddi-wip

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

To make the crust, crush graham crackers in a food processor or blender (or place in large sealable bag and crush with a meat mallet). Transfer crumbs to a bowl and set aside.

Place butter in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted, about 15 seconds. Add to the bowl of graham cracker crumbs and mix until uniform.

Spray a pie pan with nonstick spray. Evenly distribute crust mixture along the bottom of the pie pan, using your hands or a flat utensil to firmly press and form the crust. Press it into the edges and up along the sides of the pan.

Bake crust in the oven until firm, 8 - 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

To make the filling, combine condensed milk, milk, and pudding mix in a large bowl. Mix well. Fold in Cool Whip until smooth. Gently stir in chocolate chips and about 3/4 of the candy cane pieces.

Once crust has cooled completely, evenly pour filling into the pan.

Refrigerate until firm and chilled, at least 2 hours. (Overnight is best.)

Sprinkle pie with remaining candy cane pieces. If you like, top with Reddi-wip just before serving. Dig in!

MAKES 8 SERVINGS

Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8th of pie)
Calories: 202
Fat: 4.5g
Sodium: 250mg
Carbs: 37g
Fiber: 0.25g
Sugars: 24g
Protein: 2.5g

PointsPlus™ value 5*