Halloween Temptations

As a child Halloween is about picking out the perfect costume, parties at school, and lots of tricks and treats. But as an adult, this can be a very dangerous time of year and I don’t mean the scary skeleton in your neighbor's window. I am talking about the pumpkin cookies, the mud/worm pies, tiny candy bars in every flavor, and even that candy dish at work which has been continuously filled since September 1st. Don't forget the adult Halloween parties which are non-stop snacking and treats in a glass. The ever so yummy hot apple cider and rum, who can resist that right?

Here are a few tips to hopefully get you through this season:

#1 - It’s OK not to eat every treat your co-workers bring in. Don’t let them pressure you into having a huge slice of pumpkin pie with cool whip at 8 AM. On the flip side, it’s also OK to have one or two pieces of candy per day. But that’s it. (If you can’t handle just one or two, then don’t have any). If you can, have yourself a handful of candy corn. This will not ruin your diet. Just make sure it’s all accounted in your calories. Denying yourself these things will become the destruction of your workout/healthy-self.

#2 - What do you do if you’re the mom who has to make cupcakes with the candy ghosts, goblins, and gummy worms on top for school? Don’t lick the bowls and spoons when you’re done (huge number of unaccounted calories). Quickly throw everything in a sink of hot water and don’t offer it to your children. They don’t need it either. Make sure you send ALL the snacks to school. Don’t leave any at home. If you can get away with skipping the cupcakes, cakes, pies, etc. then try and make a healthier snack choice for the school parties.

#3 - Put together some yummy trail mix in cute Halloween gift bags and throw in a handful of M&M’s. This way you won’t become the mean health-nut mom at the parent/teacher meetings. Or cut up small apple chunks, sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon and dry them in your oven or dehydrator. Add pumpkin seeds to the mix. They are healthy for you as well. Watch the sodium levels when using soy sauces or lots of regular salt to your pumpkin seeds.


#4 - When your child comes home from trick-or-treating, (this one is going to hurt) take half the candy and toss it out (when they aren’t looking of course). Or limit the amount of houses you take them too. Kids don’t need this kind of sugar rush. It causes bad habits as an adult. Why do you think you are so tempted by the candy dish at work? It’s OK to let them have a few, as it’s all about tradition and you don’t want to strip them of holiday memories. But try and make healthy memories for them as well. Memories other than that linked to candy.

#5 - Go to a hotel with a pool Halloween night. With all the money you are saving on NOT buying the neighbors candy, you can spend a fun night with your kids. Swim until the pool closes, play some games, wear them out, make your own traditions. The children can’t see what’s going on outside to be jealous of their friends. After a few fun years, they won’t even miss the candy tradition. Your also not home, lights out, and no one will expect you to be passing out junk food. It’s a good message to your friend/neighbors who have been giving you a hard time for your healthy ways.

We hope these tips help you through this candy filled holiday. Enjoy the time with your family and not with the calories.

Self Image

When was the last time you looked at another person and thought you liked their hair, their eyes, and/or body shape? I would bet it hasn't been that long. We do it almost every day.

When was the last time you looked in the mirror and thought I DON'T like my hair, eyes, and/or body type? Was it this morning? Most people do this everyday as well! Why do we see the positive features in others and pick out the negative in ourselves? It is the endless cycle of never being content with who we are. Now, you would think I was going to tell you to go speak positive over yourself. I want to take this in an entirely different direction.

I want you to take a moment and tell those people you see every day, what you admire about them. Be honest and sincere. Don't go around throwing out compliments you don't mean. Next time you are in the women's bathroom and you catch someone's eye in the mirror, tell them what you like about them. Compliment their clothing, glasses, hair, makeup. It's harder for men to do this but it is recommended as well. "Hey, nice coat." or "What cologne are you wearing?"

Why do I recommend complimenting others and just not focus on being positive with yourself? Because I can guarantee, you are the other person we have all been staring at, you just don't know it.

And why do I know this? Simple, we are not all looking at ONE person. We are looking at each other.

Ab Workouts

After a recent post on Quickie for your Legs, I was asked to do a post on those horrible love handles we all hate. First, I must teach you about "Spot Reducing". I can't post about abs and say these videos are the answer. Great abs are so much more than just working out. When it comes to spot reducing (reducing fat in one spot) it can't be done. Fat comes off equally over your body. For most, the stomach is the last place noticeable, as it stores the most fat.

Read the article posted on Tuff Phit called Abs Start in the Kitchen. Nutrition plays a huge part in eliminating bloating, water retention, and abdominal muscle definition. If you don't have your diet under control, getting abs or even a flat stomach, will not become a reality. Clean eating (unprocessed foods) is a must! Add in full body resistance training, with cardio, and you will start to see the belly fat melt away. Once the last few overall pounds are off, the abs will be revealed.

Six or eight pack abdominals are what America characterizes as "fit" or "ripped". Remember they are only prominent when you have very little body fat and this takes work and dedication. We are not saying it can't be done, as most assuredly it can. Just know they don't come easy.

So here are a few videos we found to give you the knowledge on focusing in on the abdominal section of your workouts. Incorporate these exercises in with your other routines. We love your feedback and we do listen. Let us know what you think of these videos.

I personally do this one all the time. For beginners, or if you have hip problems, cross your ankles.

Sodastream - Make Your Own Soda

Your Happy Hearts has told you time and time again in previous posts to stay away from High Fructose Corn Syrup and Aspartame for many health reasons. So what if you love pop and are having a hard time giving it up? Almost all sodas, with the exception of Coke from Mexico, is made with HFCS. Sodastream is your answer. All Sodastream mixers are made with real sugar. The diets, with Splenda instead of the nasty Aspartame.

So how does this work?

Sodastream is your own "at home" soda maker. The Fountain Jet Soda Maker shown here retails for $99.95 and comes with your choice of color, two - 1 liter refillable bottles, and a heavy 60 liter carbonator tank.

The carbonator is placed in the back of the soda maker. By pushing the lever at the front, the attached straw tilts forward and you screw on a bottle filled with chilled water. (I use water right from my refrigerator door as it has been chilled already.) Once the bottle is screwed on tight, you release the lever which puts the bottle down straight. This process can be somewhat tricky. Screwing on the bottle really needs both hands. Hold the water bottle at the bottom with one hand and the maker in the other. My personal thought is the lever should stay titled back on it's own till you are done. With a little practice it can be done, but not the smoothest process.

Press the button on the top of the machine in quick short presses and the long straw kicks out carbon. Around 10 pumps the machine will make a loud beeping or buzzing sound. Three buzzes and the water is carbonated to a regular store soda. More pumps and you can get extra fizz. I stay around one buzz as I don't like heavily bubbled soda. Too much bloating.

Once it is to your desired fizz, tilt out the bottle and the CO2 is released making a loud hissing sound. Unscrew and your bubbles start to flow. Then simply add the flavor of your choice.

Be careful to follow the rules on this one and add it to a slanted bottle. Dumping it in quickly, straight on, will cause an overflow effect as if you shook up the soda. Believe me, I know this from experience. Screw the lid onto the bottle and rotate it back and forth gently to mix in the flavor. In only a matter of minutes you have sodapop. It's as easy as making Kool-Aid.

Flavors retail for only $4.99 on the Sodastream website and make 6/2 liters or 12 Sodastream bottles. This figures out to only $0.83 cents per 2 liter. We also found some flavors to be too strong for us, so we used half the recommended amount. Which makes your flavors last longer and produce more pop for less cost. No deposits or the hassle of taking back returns. These flavors can be purchased at your local grocery store and there are MANY to chose from. My favorite being the Cranberry Raspberry and Rootbeer.

The Carbonation tanks are much like a propane tank. You must return your empty for a refilled tank. You can easily do this through the Sodastream site. Purchasing two at a time would always leave you with a spare.

Your Happy Hearts always promotes Clean Eating of unprocessed foods and fresh beverages. As this is still not an "organic" choice, it may be a better choice for your family than the HFCS soda from the store. There are also flavored juice concentrates so you can have sparkling water with a little fruit flavor. Another healthier alternative is to be creative. Cut up ginger root and add it to sparkling water and make Gingerale.

What we personally love about the Sodastream is having 8 or so flavors on hand in the cupboard. When company/family comes over, you are always prepared to serve up beverages. Not all friends and family are on the same health journey you are. So without spending money on 2 liters that sit flat in your fridge, you can make the soda as needed. It's a great concept and YHH is happy to have it in the kitchen.

Quickie for your Legs

A short but burning workout for your legs:

Watch the attached video and follow in this series for a 6 min. killer leg workout.

Do Sumo Squats for circuit one.
Then jumping jacks for one minute to crank your heart rate.
Do the leg lunges with or without weights, for circuit two.
Add another minute of a light jump rope. (If you don't have a rope, fake it)
Do the 2nd set of leg lunges for circuit three.
Ending with one minute of butt kicks. (Literally jogging in place kicking yourself in the butt).

Then cool yourself down with some leg stretches.

The video is almost three minutes. By adding the minute cardio, between each set, you now have a 6 minute routine with a cool down. Who can't fit that into their day?