The clock is ticking. :o My son's wedding is June 15th. With the dress I have picked, I need to do some major muscle work, especially on my arms.
Tips for the best exercises?
Also, simple, tasty, low calorie recipes? At the best of times I am not in cooking mode and that leads to a lot of unhealthy choices, especially this time of year.I dont want to gain back the weight I have lost.
Wrap recipes are great or anything else that can be whipped together in a matter of minutes.
As far as exercising, personally I hate it, so I try to go for workout routines that are short, fast and productive.
Do you have any mobility issues or dietary requirements??
that will help with the suggestions :)
congrats on the weightloss so far :)
No mobility issues and no real dietary requirements except I need to be careful because of my gallbladder, too much grease, and I have a wonderful attack which leaves me sick for a good week or more.
Thanks, it's been a long road but it sure feels good! :)
Cut your portions back. That's difficult at first, but you get used to it.
As far as exercise, do you currently do the stationary bike? If so, bring a dumbbell with you, and every other minute do a set of 10 curls or 10 overhead presses (alternate the arms 10 rt, then 10 left) and then 2 minutes later do the other exercise (curls or presses). Use light weight to tone, heavy weight will build too much muscle.
Good luck!
Write down everything that you eat. Cut down on sugars and replace it with low fat proteins and fibers. You will still feel full and gradually you can cut down on portions by measuring everything you eat.
The exercises on this video can de done at your desk in short periods.
The weights are not absolutely neccesary at first.
http://www.women-workout-routines.com/arm-exercises.html
Great tips, thanks so much! :)
Really great link DC! I love that it can be done at your desk.
After my mother dropped a boatload of weight, she became a horrid know-it-all and was a pain to live around. So when I lost weight, I didn't want to be the same way so I try to NEVER offer my opinions. But you asked..... No seriously I wanted to share this because I thought it was funny.
One of the things I do is to "take the long way" - always the stairs, park as far away from where I am going as I can etc. When my husband is driving I am always dragging him along with me on the "long way" telling him to "just think of it as part of my 10,000 steps". One day he looked at me kinda funny and said "this whole 10,000 step thing is kinda your Zen, isn't it - I think you should make it your own 12,(000) step program, ya know AA - ambulatory anonymous".
So now I go to two "meetings" daily (treadmill) for 8000 steps, and get the other 4000 the "long way".
Good luck Mairte - I will be rooting for you.
Thanks Mehan! :)
Today my daughters were discussing the dress I want to wear for my son's wedding and wonder of wonders they both thought I have good taste. :)
(I RARELY wear dresses much less pick out my own,lol)
I love the 10,000 step idea. :)
I'll be the first to admit I don't follow my own advice, nor do I cook very often, but....
Weight Watchers has some really tasty low-cal recipes. They have a coffee-encrusted beef tenderloin that is TO DIE FOR in my opinion. A chicken pot pie, and their 0-point soup is really tasty too. Of course, they don't "speak" calories, but "points" but with all things being relative, they have good guidelines.
And if you like asparagus, some fresh asparagus, olive oil, smidgeon of garlic and lemon zest is 0 points. 10 minutes in a 500 degree oven and voila. It's one of the easiest things to make I've ever encountered!
If you can't find those recipes on the inter webs, I'll scrounge them up and post them.
If you could post them, that would be great! :) Low calorie recipes are a life saver. I prefer that over buying already made meals constantly when trying to count calories.
I am going to have to have my rings resized because they wont fit anymore, slide right off my fingers! :)
Here you go - if they are copyrighted, all credit to Weight Watchers! They go from easiest to most complicated. They are all delicious!
Weight Watchers 0 Point Garden Vegetable Soup
2/3 cup sliced carrots
½ cup diced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fat free broth (beef, vegetable or chicken)
1-1/2 cups diced green cabbage
½ cup green beans
1 T tomato paste
½ t dried basil
¼ t dried oregano
¼ t salt
½ cup diced zucchini
1. In large saucepan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, sauté carrots, onions and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes
2. Add all remaining ingredients except zucchini, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes
3. Stir in zucchini and heat 3-4 minutes.
Serve hot, serves 3-4. 42 calories, 0g fat, 2g fiber
[I cheat a lot and use pre-sliced/diced sometimes frozen – sometimes not – veggies. And occasionally add a diced Yukon Gold potato and/or cubed beef or chicken depending on the broth. When using meat, I brown the meat in the skillet before adding ingredients in step 1. Also good to toss into a crock pot for a few hours.]
Weight Watchers 5 Point Chicken Pot Pie
2 servings butter flavored cooking spray
1 t butter
1 small onion, chopped
2 cups mushrooms, sliced
¼ t paprika
¼ t crushed, dried thyme
½ t salt
¼ t black pepper
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup canned chicken broth
3 cups chopped or diced chicken breast
2 T all purpose flour
½ cup fat free evaporated milk (divided)
4 rolls reduced fat crescent roll dough, unrolled
1. Preheat oven to 375F, coat a 10" round shallow baking dish with cooking spray
2. Coat a large pot with cooking spray. Add butter and melt over medium heat.
3. Add mushrooms and onion and cook until tender, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes
4. Stir in spices
5. Add vegetables, broth and chicken. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes
6. In a small cup, combine half (1/4 cup) of the evaporated milk and flour. Stir into chicken mixture.
7. Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly, about 2-3 minutes
8. Stir in remaining evaporated milk and stir constantly until mixture is slightly thickened, about 2-3 minutes
9. Spoon chicken mixture into baking dish
10. Arrange unrolled crescent rolls around top of baking dish – there will be a hole in the middle.
11. Bake for 15 minutes
Serves 6, no info on calories, etc
[I also cheat on this one with a variety of frozen veggies. We aren't fond of mushrooms either so I slightly cook the chicken with the onions in step 2 and use more veggies to make up the volume lost from not using mushrooms. Also another good dish to add 1 or 2 diced Yukon Gold potatoes too – I boil mine first and add them in step 5.]
Weight Watchers 4 Point Coffee-Crusted Beef Tenderloin
1 T freshly ground dark roast coffee [I use already ground coffee]
1 t kosher salt or ½ t table salt
1-1/2 t freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 2-pound beef tenderloin, trimmed
Cooking spray
1 T all purpose flour
1 14-ounce can of less-sodium beef broth
2 cups brewed dark roast coffee
1 T olive oil
¾ cup chopped shallots
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 t brown sugar
¼ t kosher salt or 1/8 t table salt
Thyme sprigs (optional) [I used dried thyme]
1. Preheat oven to 500F
2. Combine ground coffee, 1 t salt, and 1-1/4 t pepper; gently press onto beef. Place tenderloin on a rack coated with cooking spray in a shallow roasting pan. Bake at 500F for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300F and continue cooking for 20 minutes and a thermometer registers 145 degrees (medium rare) or higher as desired. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
3. While beef cooks, place flour in a small bowl; gradually add broth and brewed coffee, stirring with a whisk until well blended.
4. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add shallots; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add broth mixture and bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.
5. Cook sauce until it is reduced to 1 cup, about 20 to 25 minutes). Stir in remaining pepper, brown sugar and salt.
6. Serve sauce with sliced beef. Garnish with thyme sprigs if desired. [I sprinkle a smidgeon of dried thyme on it before serving.]
8 servings, no info on calories etc.
They sound delicious AND healthy! thank you! :)
I just wanted to add that be careful you don't cut too much protein out of your diet. I made that mistake and my hair started coming out in chunks. Thank goodness for fat free yogurt and fat free cottage cheese.
Yeah, I have heard that about protein from someone who got a lap band, they said your nails and hair get all brittle if you cut the protien out.
Doc appointment...going to be to the Mayo Clinic once a week for 12 weeks, behavior modification classes. Though I have made long strides on my own, this will be kind of fun.
Just now saw this thread! I am definately making soup and soon! Thank you!!!!
I don't know if it's all that low calorie or healthy, but I make a great tex mex wrap that at least seems healthy. Use a large whole wheat wrap and fill it with 1/2 cup cooked diced chicken, drained rinsed black beans, corn, tomatoes, and lettuce. If desired, a small amount of low fat or fat free shredded cheese and fat free sour cream or a drizzle of fat free ranch. Wrap it up burrito style and cut in half. Save half for later if trying to control portions.
Lady Neysa, Mmmm, that sounds delicious and I am going to have to make it! :)