It's not too late to start squeezing into that bathing suit

So it's Sunday and I find myself wondering why I didn't start trying to lose this extra 10 pounds sooner than May 15? I don't really have an answer for this. Maybe because of the weather has been so crappy this spring or maybe its because the canucks are still in the playoffs.....beer anyone...I really am not sure. But, today I am saying to myself, today is the day that we can still try to find a way into finding myself into that bathing suit without the extra roll that I am carrying around. How am I going to be doing this.....I have decided that I will be doing this by following body for life. If you have not heard of this program, check it out here. There is also a fantastic blog, Meals and Moves, that really inspired me to start with this program. She has the body that I so desperately wanted to have in for this summer....sigh! So later this week, I will be publish some bikini shots for my before picutres so give me some more inspiration. Yikess....I'm really stepping out of the box!

This Small Town has the Biggest Losers

I fell in love with this story. A tiny town in Oregon has started their own “Biggest Loser” campaign. Every Tuesday a lime cardboard sheet goes up in the only grocery store in the town with the name of the town’s biggest loser of the week. 20% of the town’s population is involved and together they have lost more than 600 lbs.

There are weekly weigh-ins followed by a group meeting in a small conference room. Everyone cheers for the biggest loser of the week. The weekly winner gets a trophy of a pound of fat to take home(!). Local business assist by offering gift certificates as prizes. After the meeting, the biggest loser group heads over to the school gym, which is the only place to work out without having to drive for hours.

Seven day a week dieters walk, meditate, and perform resistance training and aerobics. The only pieces of equipment are the floor mats from the school and bargain resistance bands they have found on the internet for $5. Before they got the resistance bands, they used water bottles filled with sand. When they climb stairs they have to climb actual stairs, the old fashioned way.

There is only one grocery story in town, which makes it very hard to cheat. Store co-owner Betty McNeil says some cash-register conversations go like this: “Two hundred thirty calories in that cupcake. Do you know what you’re doing? Do you really want that?” she says, laughing.

Then she notes that townspeople have to leave town to cheat. “It’s 20 miles to the next Twinkie,” she adds, laughing again

“The Merc,” as the locals call it, also aims for positive reinforcement with more fruit, vegetables and yogurt in its coolers. Demand for the good stuff has skyrocketed. And of course there are the signs in the storefront window charting the town’s thinning waistlines.

Around the corner, the Shamrock Bar and Restaurant weighs in with a daily “biggest loser” special.

The participants have had miraculous results. Blood pressure is down, in at least one case knee surgery no longer required. It has also brought the town together in a positive, healthy way. The weight-loss contest wraps up at the end of the month. The winner gets the pound of fat and $600 (unlike $250,000 grand prize from the Biggest Loser TV show). After the weight-loss contest ends plans are in place to keep the momentum going. Participants vow they will not give up and they set a goal of an upcoming half-marathon.

Betty McNeil thinks the poor economy helps keep the weight off. “It’s given us something else to think about,” McNeil asserts. “We’ve had so little control over what’s happened to our retirement. What can you control? Well, your diet. And your weight loss. And your physical activity. You can control that.”

We can learn a lot from this town, like….

-It’s easier to lose weight if you’re doing it with buddies. So seek out good friends with similar goals and give each other support and encouragement.
-It doesn’t take a chance at winning a quarter-million dollars to get motivated. Treat yourself with small rewards that have no calories, like new shoes.
-It doesn’t take fancy gyms or expensive equipment to get you moving. No matter where you live or how bad the economy gets, you can ALWAYS find ways to get physical!

A Super Food you Probably aren't eating But should

Quinoa…say what? Pronounced keen-wa. I am a quinoa virgin, I would have to confess. But, many experts are saying that it is a super food I should be eating!

I recently saw an article in Men’s Health Magazine that states:

“Quinoa is a true wonder food,” says Daniel Fairbanks, Ph.D., a professor of plant and animal science at Brigham Young University. “It has about twice the protein of regular cereal grains, fewer carbohydrates, and even a dose of healthy fats.” Plus, it’s considered a “complete” protein, which means that, like meat, eggs, and dairy, it packs all of the essential amino acids your body needs to build muscle.

Quinoa is packed full of antioxidants and phytonutrients. It is one of the only complete plant protein sources. It also has loads of magnesium, manganese, copper and fibre.

WOW….I should be eating that! So I found a recipe from Allrecipes and made some alterations to what I had on hand.

Black Bean and Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1 (8 ounce) cup black beans, drained
1/2 cup dried goji berries (another SUPER food)
1/3 cup sun flower seed
3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, and the water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Scrape the quinoa into a large bowl, and refrigerate until cold.
Stir the beans, berries, sunflowers, coriander, cumin, and olive oil into the quinoa. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Yummy! This salad was so good, I just could not stop eating it. So let this be a warning about portion control! Quinoa has a subtle, nutty taste and will be used as a great substitute for rice in our house.

To read The User’s Guide to Quinoa from Men’s health, click here!

What super food should you be eating more of? Please share your in the comments below!

Gym Etiquette 101

The gym is a place where we go to get in the zone: to work hard, sweat it out and enjoy some ‘me’ time. We all pay for our gym memberships but we must all share the space. And sometimes we are sharing that space with someone who isn’t that um, fresh. Or we share the space with groans and grunts that should surely be kept to the bedroom.

There are all sorts of things that can get under our skin when we work out in close quarters with other. Our twitter friends let GGS know what sort of behavior is a real turn off. Here they are, in no particular order…

Don’t hog the free weights and stay at home if you are sick @timothystephen
Don’t stick a size 40 bust into a size 34 sports bra @deborahdunn
A sports bra is a ‘bra’ don’t sweat in it without a shirt, you are soaking all the equipment-where it outside to run in @frenzyfit
Don’t use the equipment and than not wipe with clean towel @mycrazywoman
Don’t use three different machines at the same time while talking to your friends for 10 min @thexframe
Don’t watch other people settings while you are on the treadmill-I don’t like to feel judged @kstrcklen
Don’t stare at me @amerrylife
Don’t put on lipstick while working out @sleepbettertips
Don’t flaunt your muscles in the mirror-get over yourself @wordsby wendy
Don’t leave your sweat drenched belongings all over the gym while chatting loudly and blocking the machines @sittaholic
Don’t drop your free weights on the ground @monicashaw
Don’t sniffle-blow your nose people @thedailybalance
Don’t wear the tiniest workout clothes and fresh make-its a gym people you are there to sweat @pinkpalate
Don’t leave your dirty towels and empty water bottles lying around @sorcheechee
Don’t leave your nasty mark all over the machines @cherrytphoto
Don’t bring in your cell phone @helenmj
Don’t talk so loudly that I can hear you from the other end of the room @mindyourmanners3
Don’t hover over the machine I am on that you are waiting for-back off jack a#$ @girlgetstrong2
Don’t wear perfume to gym it gives me a raging head ache @GGSFitFun
GGS Advice: Ignore those “ew” moments at the gym as much as possible. And whatever you do, don’t EVER think you don’t deserve to be there yourself. Never think you are too big, not fit enough, not flexible enough. You deserve to be there just as much as the strongest, fittest person standing next to you. So put on your earbuds and tune in to how hard your body is working for ‘you’. At the end of your session grab a mat, lie down and close your eyes and say to yourself ‘I deserve this and damn it feels good’!

What do you hate when you go to your gym? Hoverers, stinkers, starers, hoggers, talkers….? Let’s air it all out!

Slow Cooker Oatmeal-Two points weight watchers

Imagine having your hot oatmeal all ready to go to start your busy day off right. You will not look at breakfast the same again. I have just lately gone back to eating oatmeal because before it just took too much time to make the REAL oatmeal. This oatmeal is a huge time saver in the morning. Who does not want extra sleep? This oatmeal takes me to lunch with ease. I swear oatmeal is a lose weight secret, yet to be leaked. I have mastered this recipe after many attempts to get it to perfection! You can thank me after breakfast. Now if only I could master getting the kids and I out the door on time.
Ingredients
1 cup oats (not the quick cooking)
3 cups water
1 pinch salt
1 cup skim milk
Directions
Just before going to bed, combine the oats and water in a slow cooker to the warm setting. Cover and let cook overnight (approx 7 hours) In the morning, stir in the salt and milk. Scoop into bowls, and sprinkle optional topping .
I have topped mine with walnuts, brown sugar, pumpkin seeds, bananas, blueberries and raisins. Yummy!
Now, go eat your oats!
1/2 cup serving is 150 calories, 2 grams fat and 4 grams fibre (without the add-ons) 2 points ww
What do you top your oatmeal with? I would love to learn to make different varations on my new found breakfast, so please share!