Holidays

The other day I posted a question on my Facebook page (Facebook.com/livewellbefit) and was surprised by the answers I got. The question was...during the holidays do u splurge or do you try to stick with your meal plan?  90% of the people that responded said they splurge, the other 10% said they try to choose healthy options even at holiday dinners.

 

I would fall into the 10% category.  Here are some of my own tips I use to stay on track when the holidays are in full swing.

 

1.  The day of a party I stick to my meal plan. Don't skip meals and try to save calories. This is like giving yourself an excuse to over indulge. So if you have a business lunch, eat your morning meals go to lunch and then make sure you get your evening meals in. Something goes for a dinner event. By skipping meals you are actually slowing your metabolism, not a good thing.

 

2. Stay hydrated. Holiday party's usually equal holiday cocktails. Egg nog...Yum! I always make sure to drink plenty of water during the day if I plan on going to a party in the evening.  Alcohol is dehydrating.  Have you ever noticed that you feel thirsty while you are drinking alcohol? This is especially true when you drink wine. Having a mixed drink like cranberry and vodka is a little better because the juice adds some hydration.  The best thing to do if you are indulging is to drink a glass of water in between each alcoholic drink.

 

3. I only eat what I REALLY want. I pass on food that I can have anytime and pick the food that I only eat around the holidays. For example, I make peanut butter pie at least 4 times a year for special occasions but my Grandmother only makes pumpkin pie once a year I like both but I would rather splurge on the pumpkin pie. I can have peanut butter pie another time.

 

I hope these tips help. There are plenty of other ways to survive the holidays without gaining 10lbs but these are the tips I use year round to stay on track and still enjoy social gatherings.

 

Smile.

Jamie Lynn

 

Change of Plans :)

So after a few weeks of debating with my inner self, I have decided not to compete in the May 30 show.  I have had several life changes in the last few weeks that have and will continue to put strain on my contest prep.  The most challenging is the new job that I will be starting in 1 week.  The job itself is going to be awesome but the 9 weeks of training are is going to be a challenge and take up a lot of my time.  I will be sitting in an office from 8-4:30, then of course I will be rushing home to my 3 kids to get homework done, dinner made and just general household chores all of this will leave little time to get my workouts in.  Anyone who has gone through contest prep knows you have to be diligent with your workouts and prep workouts are long you have to dedicate a good 2 hours daily.  So could I get it all in??  Probably, but it would require me to either get up very early or stay up very late or maybe even both.  I fear that I will be come exhausted and miserable from the lack of sleep and the stress of my new job and getting everything done.  I don't think it would be fair to my family because this will be a situation for them also.  So am I sad? Well yes actually I am.  I was really feeling in the zone and my body was changing nicely.  Up until this weekend I was going to keep at it and take it one day at a time, but the more I thought about it the more selfish I began to feel so I decided to step down.  So what's next??  I am going to stick to my meal plan and stay as close to my training plan as I possibly can.  I want to continue to lean out some so that when I pick a new show I wont have as much work to do.  There is actually a plus to being at the office all day...I have to eat my meals that I pack and no temptation from the kids snacks ;-)  So the dieting should actually be easier. 

Time will tell and I will share my journey as I progress through the next few weeks.  Wishing you all a very happy Spring!!!

Jamie


For training plans...
www.livewellbefitcoach.com
For the best mascara...
www.livewellbebeautiful.com'

True Friends

Usually we assume our family will be the closest and most caring to us, and for some this may be true. But for most our biggest fans and closest friends start out as strangers. Today I want to share with you what a true supporter or friend is to me. If you can relate please share.

The people I hold closest to my heart are the people that understand that even though I may not call them daily or weeks may go buy before we get a chance to spend time together that I still think about them often. I don't tolerate relationships that require a certain number of interactions. For me that is an added stress to an already stressful world. Who needs more stress?

Living a healthy lifestyle is the biggest deal breaker when making and keeping friends. This was the hardest one for me in the beginning, but it taught me so much. If someone isn't supportive of the healthy lifestyle you choose, then they are not a true friend. I lost a lot of friends over the years and it’s ok because I made new friends.

Sometimes being a supportive friend is knowing when to bite your lip. Everyone needs to make their own decisions in life to grow. If someone is always telling you what you should or shouldn't do kick them to the curb.

Finally, a true friend will support you in all your crazy dreams, and will be there to pick you up if you fall. You see the most important trait of a good friend is loyalty. There is a reason a dog is called "man's best friend". You can yell and even scold a dog, then loving say his name and he will gladly come running with his tail wagging.