Determine your child's BMI

The Shape Up America! Pediatric BMI Assessment Tool permits health care professionals to calculate BMI and plot BMI percentile on the CDC growth charts for children ages 2 to 20. The user can enter up to six sets of data for a single child and the graph can be printed out for filing purposes.

Want a visual of your progress?

Would you like to have a line chart created to show your calorie and nutrients intake over time? How about a report that shows your calories eaten and calories burned? Maybe you would rather have a line chart showing your weigh in and measurments.  Well guess what?  You can have those and a whole lot more.  Once again it is Spark People that I refer to for their reports.  Just keep your journal of foods and exercise and weigh ins and you can automatically have them turned into a number of graphs.  Great idea to have a tangible report of your progress.

                                                                                     

EatSmart Kitchen Scale

Need help controlling portion size?  I know we certainly do, it's one of our biggest challenges in regards to losing weight.  So I was very excited to try out the EatSmart Precision Pro Kitchen Scale that I recieved to review.  It's very easy to use and has many useful features.  You can easily eliminate the weight of a bowl or plate by setting the scale back to zero once the bowl is placed on the scale.  You can choose the unit you prefer - grams, ounces, kilograms, or pounds, and it has the ability to weigh up to 11lbs./5Kg.  The scale is accompanied by a Calorie Factor Book to aid in the accuracy.  For example: a raw apple with skin has a calorie factor of .52.  This means when you find the total weight of the apple you multiply it by .52 and you have the exact calories for that apple.  So, if it's more calories than you want to consume, you can decrease you portion size.   My favorite feature is that it is very compact and can easily slide into a drawer when not in use.  It comes in a variety of colors to match any kitchen decor, and has a two year warranty. Check out EatSmart Products  for this and other scales.

Max Brenner Chocolate Cookbook Giveaway

OK- I know.  This seems to go against the philosophy of health and fitness.  But, every once in awhile if you feel the need to splurge, it might as well be worth it.  Also, with the holidays right around the corner you might want to impress your friends and family with some delectable treats. I had the opportunity to review and giveaway a copy of  "Chocolate A Love Story - 65 Chocolate Dessert Recipes from Max Brenner's Private Collection", written my Max Brenner with artwork by Yonatan Factor.  This captivating book is filled with chocolate recipes for every occasion - even breakfast!  The artwork completes the book with bright eye catching colors and pictures of tempting desserts.  My favorite is the "Adult and Child chocolate burger joint venture".  It looks just like a hamburger.  There is even a recipe with spaghetti as an ingredient.  Sound interesting?  Enter to win you own copy of this book that will be released later this year.  Random Drawing on November 14, 2009.  Good luck!

For extra entries:

Email a friend with a link to the giveaway
Twitter this: Enter to win "Chocolate A Love Story" at http://www.theweightsoverbytt.blogspost.com/
Become a Facebook Fan
Post a link on your blog
Subscribe to daily updates

Motivational Calendar

Gotta Love Spark People.  They are offering a motivational calendar that you can print for free.  SparkPeople's Motivational Calendars will help you focus on one healthy habit each month.

Get you daily motivation here.

Motivation and Inspiration

The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!
- Marvin Phillips

Great Breakfast Ideas

Oatmeal makes a "heart healthy fiber" breakfast, but we rarely eat it.  Even with new flavors being added it just sounds sort of boring and doesn't appeal to anyone in our family.  But, check out Quaker Oats web site with all the ideas to enhance your oatmeal.  My kids even seem to be excited to try some of these.  You can look at the many, many combinations made by visitors, or you can make up your own.  Add some fruit, or some nuts for protein. 

Need Fitness Ideas? Try Workout Generator

This is one of the features on spark people and it suggests workouts based on your fitness level and time constraints.  Give it a try.  You will have a few options to choose from.

Wonderful Stuffed Potatoes

This is a Sparkpeople.com recipe

Ingredients



4 medium baking potatoes
3/4 cup low-fat (1%) cottage cheese
1/4 cup 1% milk
2 tablespoons soft margarine
1 teaspoon dill weed
3/4 teaspoon herb seasoning
4-6 drops hot pepper sauce
2 teaspoon grated parmesan cheese


Directions

1. Prick potatoes with fork. Bake at 425º F for 60 minutes or until fork is easily inserted.

2. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop out potato leaving about 1/2 inch of pulp inside shell. Mash pulp in large bowl.

3. Mix in by hand remaining ingredients except parmesan cheese. Spoon mixture into potato shells.

4. Sprinkle each top with 1/4 teaspoon parmesan cheese.

5. Place on baking sheet and return to oven. Bake 15-20 minutes or until tops are golden brown.



Yield: 8 servings--Serving Size: 1/2 potato each
Calories 109.7
Protein 9.3

I don't usually keep dill week on hand, so I will substitute green onions.

Laugh for the day

Ok.  This doesn't fit in with the positive motivational attitude that we're trying to maintain, but it is so funny I couldn't help but post it for all to read.  I can relate to this, because it is how I've conducted all diets in the past. 
If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
Unknown

Motivation and Inspiration

Jane Goodall


"If you really want something, and really work hard, and take advantage of opportunities, and never give up, you will find a way."

Smoothie kids will love

This smoothie is called the After-School Pick Me Up, and it is featured in The Ultimate Smoothie Book by Cherie Calbom.  This book is filled with many delicious smoothies and  divides them into catergories such as Weight-lose smoothies; healthful smoothies, shakes, and popsicles kids love; Work-out and Bodybuilding smoothies; and low carb smoothies. 

After-School Pick Me Up

1 cup orange juice
3/4 cup red grapes
1 cup frozen unsweetened cherries
1 frozen banana, cut in chunks

Pour the orange juice and grapes into blender and add the cherries and bananas.  Serve immediately.

Serves 2
188.3 Calories

Re-evaluate Goals

Well it's time to sit down and look at the goals we made as a family last week.  We were planning on drinking more water.  We improved, but still not a sufficient increase.  So we will focus on making an improvement in our water consumption again.  I think this week we will add in some powerade zero.  Although I'm sure water is the better choice, it's sometimes easier to drink something with a little flavor.  I think this will help us reach our goal. 

This week we are also going to plan on not eating  after 7:00 pm.  This is going to be a hard one to follow.  I can see many early bedtimes in the near future to get us through the evenings.

No-fry french fries

I saw this recipe of a web site designed by Mary Lou Retton, remember she was gymnast that won the gold in 1984.  She has some interesting advise and information about health and weight lose. Visit her site to see what she has to say. 
This is her recipe.

No-Fry French Fries
Serves 6

Ingredients:

6 baking potatoes (Idaho or Russet)

1 tablespoon canola or olive oil

1 egg white

Salt and pepper to taste

Basil, cayenne, paprika, and/or garlic powder to taste



Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with non-stick vegetable spray. Peel the potatoes (or scrub well). Cut into ¼-inch strips. (If you have time, soak the strips ice water for 20 to 30 minutes for crisper fries. Drain well and pat dry.)

In a medium bowl, beat the oil with the egg white until frothy.

Coat the potatoes with the oil/egg white mixture. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with seasonings.


Bake in the lower third of the oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until brown and crispy, stirring once or twice. Serve immediately.

I make a similiar recipe. I peel and slice the potatoes on a cookie sheet and sprinke with garlic salt, onion salt, and pepper.    The kids love them, so it's a great alternative to french fries.

Great Healthy Snack

Brothers-All-Natural Crisps

This is an awesome snack.  100% Natural and delicious.  It's freeze dried fruit and comes in three flavors -Fuiji Apple, Asian Pear, and Strawberry Banana.  I was surprised that it's not real crunchy like other dried snacks.  Instead, it is light and crispy, and almost melts in your mouth.  Naturally sweet and delicious. You can visit their website and learn more about their products, and were you can get your own.  They also have a product giveaway, so don't forget to enter.  When you visit Brothers-All-Natural, don't forget to sign up for their coupons.

Motivation and Inspiration

An Expert at anything was once a Beginner.
- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Walking Route Planner

This is a great site to plan your walks and know how far you have been.  Just type in your zip code and it brings up a map of your area.  It gets so specific, I was able to find my own street and measure the distance around the block.  This is fun to play with and see how you can change your route to make it just the right length. Click here to map your own route.

Webwalking USA Walking Program

I came across this site on the internet the other day and it seems like a fun thing for the family to do together.  You can virtually walk across the United States and chart your progress using their printable map.  If you have a pedometer, you can track your steps.  It takes 504,800 steps to walk from coast to coast.  If you want to count minutes, it takes 5048 minutes to walk from coast to coast.  You can print out your own copies of the map and logs at http://walking.about.com/cs/measure/a/webwalkingusa.htm .  It will be fun to see how long it takes us.

8 Foods That Fight Fat

Sound interesting?  This article was written by Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief.  She claims that your supermarket is filled with foods that studies show have lipid-melting powers to help melt fat and keep you slim.  The eight foods are almonds, berries, cinnamon, mustard, oranges, soybeans, sweet potatoes, and swiss cheese.  Sounds to good to be true, but it won't hurt to put more of these in my diet.  You can read the whole article and find out the particulars to why these foods were choosen.  http://health.yahoo.com/experts/healthieryou/12893/8-foods-that-fight-fat/

Motivation and Inspiration

No matter who you are, no mattter what you do, you absolutely, positively do have the power to change.
- Bill Phillips

Scoopable Chinese Chicken Salad

This recipe if from "Hungary Girl 200 under 200" by Lisa Lillien

One 16-once package dry broccoli slaw mix
12 ounces cooked skinless lean chicken breast, chopped
1 cup canned water chestnuts, drained and sliced into thin strips
1 cup canned mandarin orange segments packed in water or juice, drained and chopped
1 cup chopped scallions
3/4 cup Newman's Own Lighten Up! Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing

In a large bowl, toss all ingredients together until mixed well.  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  Stir well before serving.  Enjoy!  Makes 5 servings.

11/2 cup per serving is 195 calories

Goals

We have decided that we would make small goals for the day or week.  These are more easy to attain then long term goals.  Our family goal this week is to drink more water.  We have put a chart on the refrigerator that has everyones name with empty boxes beside it.  We check off a box when we have had a glass of water.  Kids don't need as much water as adults, but its important to stay hydrated.

Motivation and Inspiration

Eighty percent of success is showing up.
- Woody Allen

Keeping Kids on Task

There is a great site called Handipoints which  lets you create chore charts for your kids.  It also has catergories such as exercise and health, so they can make sure they are accomplishing all their goals for the day.  Plus you can customize your own chart.  This part of the site is free.  They have other parts where you can pay a fee and utilize more things they have to offer.  For example, your kids can get online and check off the things they completed and earn items to create a virtual world.  I have only used the parts that are free and have found it very benefitial.  Here is an example of my child's chart.  If you would like to sign up, go to Handipoints and create your own account.

Yoplait Smoothies

My daughter think she "needs" ice cream every night.  So I'm always searching for something healthier that she will like just as well.  I had the opportunity to sample Yoplait's new smoothies, and they are absolutely delicious.  Of course, you can always make smoothies from scratch, but this is a fast and easy alternative.  You just need to add milk and one serving is 110 calories. Plus it gives you one serving of fruit.  It comes in three flavors Strawberry Banana,  Strawberry Mango Pineapple, and Triple Berry. If you have time and would like to make some from scratch, Yoplait has some fantastic Smoothie Ideas.

Motivation and Inspiration

I found these 100 Motivational Fitness Quotes compiled by http://www.tryingfitness.com/, they so gratiously allow their work to be shared.  Thanks tryingfitness!!  I will post one a day for continued motivation.

Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness.
- Earl of Derby

Sweet and Sour Pork Chops

This is a healthy recipe my whole family loves.  Its from Lifetime's show Cook Yourself Thin.
http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/cook-yourself-thin  The recipe was originally for Sweet and Sour Pork, but I used Chicken.  It is absolutely delicious.

Sweet and Sour Pork Chops
Serves 4
Calories per serving, pork chops: 290
Calories per serving, brown rice: 175

For the pork chops:

1 tablespoon dry sherry
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 pound 1-inch-thick boneless pork loin chops, trimmed of any fat, and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons pineapple juice
1 tablespoon ketchup
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 red onion, peeled, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 red (or 1 red and 1 green) bell peppers, stemmed, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes

For the brown rice:

1 1/2 cups brown rice
3 cups chicken stock

1. To make the pork chops: Combine sherry, pepper, 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon of the sugar in a medium bowl. Add pork and gently toss until well coated. Let marinate in the refrigerator.

2. Stir together pineapple juice, ketchup, vinegar, the remaining tablespoon of soy sauce, and remaining teaspoon of sugar in a small bowl until well combined.

3. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned but still a little crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large dish. Heat another tablespoon of the oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned but still a little crisp, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the same dish.

4. Heat remaining tablespoon of oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the pork cubes, arranging in a single layer. Cook, undisturbed, until a golden-brown crust forms on the bottom, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn the cubes over and cook until a golden-brown crust forms on the other side, about 1 1/2 minutes. Return onion and peppers to the pan and toss to combine. Add pineapple juice mixture and cook, stirring, until sauce evenly coats everything and thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately.

5. To make the brown rice: In a saucepan, bring the stock to a boil and add the rice. Cover with a lid and let simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Using a fork, fluff the grains and serve.

Y water

In my search for healthy alternatives for my family, I've come across this product called "Y Water".  It claims to be organic, nutrient rich, and low caloric.  The containers are a unique shape that can be used as creative building materials, or it can be recycled.  You can check it out for yourself and see if it's available in your area. http://www.ywater.us/  Y not?