A Wonderful Testimony and Fit Friday

I posted a few days ago about one of the pastors at our church that passed away on Monday.  I have been somewhat surprised at how many people's lives have been touched by Pastor Kurt.  People that didn't even know him well knew what he was all about and it will be exciting to see how his death will change people -for the better - all because of how he lived his life.  I can't even say that we knew him well, but he always had a nice word to share or a smile, he called on our family a few times to see how we were doing, Carl and Kurt coached some of the same sports and would see each other at games - so we knew him, but we didn't know him personally.  I've been thinking about people in my life that have died that make me want to live my life differently - my grandmother (miss her so much - I can still hear her laugh), my dad (too hard to even write about him), and now Pastor Kurt.  Death seems to have a way of making you look at your life and reevaluate how you are living.  I've made a few changes already this week that probably wont be noticed by others, but I know what they are.  Carl summed up his feelings perfectly when he said "I woke from a sleepy routine of life to see the people around me.  Why does the ground have to shake for you to realize what's around you."  Life gets so busy and things get in the way and you lose touch with others or don't even reach out to touch others.  Life is too short to live with regrets.

What a wonderful testimony we saw tonight.  It was the viewing for Pastor Kurt and the line was long - so many people wanting to pay their respects to a man that probably would have been embarrassed by all the attention.  He just wanted to serve God and I'm learning that he did that every day.  Someone told Carl and I tonight that on earth there are good guys and then there are great men and Pastor Kurt was in the second group - he was a great man.  He will be missed by his wife, sons, family, and friends.  If you would like to read more about Pastor Kurt and how he touched lives, read here and here.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * *

FIT FRIDAY

Recently I purchased two new exercise DVDs - Kettlenetics and Physique 57 and they are good but tough!  Now, let me remind you that I'm really out of shape so they might not be that difficult for some of you. 



Kettlenetics - Let me start by saying that I purchased this at Best Buy for less than the cost on link above - bargain!  I did the 20 minute workout (flowMotion basics) and couldn't even make it through without stopping (several times) - it was a good workout for me and my thighs really felt it the next day.  The second time I did the workout, I only stopped once - not as difficult this time, but still a good workout. Eventually the 4 lb ball will need to be replaced with something heavier, but for now it works just fine. The next time I do this workout, I'm going to try the 40 minute workout (cardio balanced) and I know I'll probably have to stop, but it will be worth it in the end.

Physique 57 - I've been wanting this workout DVD since I saw it advertised on TV and right now it is my favorite workout DVD.  Actually there are 3 DVDs and the Arm & Ab booster is choice #1, followed by the Express 30 minute workout, and last (but not least) the Classic 57 minute workout.   Fun, fun, fun workout but tough, tough, tough.  These workouts are felt for days aftward......and were worth every penny I paid. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Friday night we are going to a chili cook-off.  There will be games (knockout, 3-3, euchre, ping pong, etc.) and I think it will be a fun time with family and friends.  There was no school today (Thursday) so Kyle didn't have his basketball game tonight - just as well - we could use a night to just stay at home.  Both boys have basketball games on Saturday and Ryan will be playing a game in between the JV and Varsity game that night as well.  Sunday is the Colts game - looking forward to see how much I remember from my football lesson a few weeks ago.  Have a great weekend everyone.  Share a smile and see what you get in return :)

So many thoughts and Menu Plan Monday

Well, my plan was to get my dinnner menu ready last night and posted on the Organizing Junkie site for Menu Plan Monday, but sometimes things don't always work out the way you want.  I'm sorry to start this out on such a sad note, but one of the associate pastors at my church passed away yesterday morning.  He was a dear friend to so many, a devoted husband and father, and he touched so many lives.  This is such a shock to our church and  it makes me think about life without my husband.  It also make me think about my mother - my dad passed away last November and I just can't imagine being without the person you love.  So ladies, I ask you today to please take a moment to tell your significant other how you feel about them, share a hug, and enjoy a laugh or two together.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

So, on a brighter note - my boys are happy because there is a 2 hour delay today due to fog!  I'm hoping that there is school because Kyle has a basketball game tonight and Carl and I were looking forward to watching the team play.  I'm planning on finishing up a few small painting projects around the house tonight too so I can get ready to post on Leslie's Watcha Working on Wednesday post.

Here is our menu for this week - like I mentioned on Sunday, my weeknights really flow better when I have some meals planned - I hope you find a recipe here that you like and I can't wait to see what everyone else has posted for Menu Plan Monday. 

Breakfast:

Wednesday: 

Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins (from Colleen)

Friday: 

OATMEAL RAISIN MUFFINS
1 egg

3/4 c. milk

1 c. raisins

1 chopped apple

1/2 c. oil

1 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. quick oats

1/3 c. sugar

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. nutmeg

2 tsp. cinnamon

Beat eggg; stir in remaining ingredients, mixing just to moisten.  Pour into 12 greased muffin cups until 3/4 full.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.  Serve cool or piping hot with butter.

Dinner:

Monday:  ???

Tuesday: 

Savor Meat Loaf (from the back of the Hunts tomato sauce can), mashed potatoes, corn

1 can (15.25 oz) Hunts seasoned tomatoe sauce for meatloaf

2 lbs. lean ground beef

2 large eggs, beaten

1 c. quick cooking oats

dry break crumbs or crushed crackers

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Mix together 1/2 can sauce, ground beef, eggs, and oats.  Place meat mixture into loaf pan.  Bake uncovered 1 hour; drain.  Top meatloaf with remaining sauce.  Bake an additional 10 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Wednesday: 

 STIR FRY BEEF AND BROCCOLI

1 lb. beef tenderloin, cut in 1/2 inch cubes
2-3 tblsp oil (more if necessary)

1/2 c. onion, diced

1 lb fresh broccoli, cut in flowerettes

1/2 c. chicken broth

2 tblsp soy sauce (or lite soy)

1 tsp. cornstarch

4 med fresh tomatoes, cut in wedges

Brown tenderloin cubes in hot oil in wok or skillet on all sides; remove.   Drain on paper towel.  Cook onion in oil until tender; remove.  Add to beef.  Set aside.  Add broccoli (along with more oil if necessary).  Stir-fry until broccoli is partially tender.  Combine broth, soy sauce and cornstarch in small bowl.  Add reserved beef and onions to broccoli; pour broth mixture over all.  Stir to mix.  Lower heat to simmer; simmer 5 minutes, covered.  Add tomato wedges; gentley mix with other ingredients.  Cook until tomatoes are just heated through.  Serve on a bed of rice.  4 servings. 

Thursday: 

Leftovers!!

Friday:  

Entering another chili cookoff and using Pioneer Woman's Simple Chili Recipe

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 tsp. ground oregano

1 tblsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

2 tblsp ground beef

one 8-oz. can tomato sauce (I used 2 cans)

1 tsp. salt

1/4 cup masa (corn flour - but I used cornmeal)

Optional ingredients:

1 can pinto beans, drained

1 can kidney beans, drained

1 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced

1 can diced tomatoes and chilies (Rotel brand)

shredded cheddar cheese

chopped onions

Fritos

Place ground beef and garlic in large pot and cook until brown; drain off fat.  Pour in tomato sauce, spices and salt.  Stir together well, cover and reduce heat to low.  Cover the pot and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.  If the mixture becomes overly dry, add in 1/2 cup water at a time as needed.  After an hour, place masa in small bowl and add 1/2 cup water - stir together with a fork.  Dump masa mix in chili and stir together.  Adjust seasonings, add more masa paste and/or water to get the chili to your upreferred consistency.  Add the beans, jalapenos, and tomatoes if desired.  Simmer for 10 minutes.  Serve with shredded cheese, onion, and Fritos.

Saturday: 
Chicken Broccoli Braid from Pampered Chef

Sunday: 
Colts game!
Stromboli 
I'm going to make the regular kind (for Carl) and
I think I might try to make a buffalo chicken version for Kyle

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I hope you have a wonderful day, find some great recipes, and share a kind word with someone you love.

The End of the Weekend

Wow, I can't believe that the weekend is over already.  Most of the snow has melted, the temperature is rising, and the fog - it's thick, really thick.  Like pea soup. For three days now.  But the weather is supposed to still be warm this week with a little bit of rain which is better than the cold weather that we've had recently. 

Basketball games were on the agenda this weekend.  Even though Ryan's team lost, they played a great game and Ryan almost made a basket :)  Kyle's team played in a tourney and came in first.  This is the third year that his team (the grade level) has won this tourney.  Just a few more games for both boys and then their seasons will be over.

Last night we watched the Colts play the Ravens and I got a lesson in football.  I really don't know that much about football, even after both boys played a few seasons.  So Carl and our friends explained football to me while we watched the Colts game.  And, thanks to their excellent instructions and enthusiasm, I think I just might be catching on.  Can't wait for next weekend to see the Colts and Jets play to see who will go to the Super Bowl for the AFC.  BTW, I made the fruit pizza that I posted about on Friday which was very good and Rochella made bufffalo chicken dip - yum yum yummy! 

Ryan has been playing Wii Sports Bowling and now the entire family has been sucked in!  We even played before church this morning.  Well, time to get ready for work and school this week.  I also need to prepare our menu for this week and get it ready for Menu Plan Monday.  The evenings seem to flow a bit better when I have a meal planned and ready to go instead of trying to pull something together at the last minute.   

Good night all.  I hope everyone has a safe, warm, and happy week.  See you tomorow.

Fit Friday and Makeover Fruit Pizza

Good morning everyone!  It's been a busy week here - we've had more basketball games this week, more games this weekend, work has been busy for me and for Carl, blah, blah, blah.  One good thing that has happened this week ----- it's warmer than it was last week and we are happy about that!  I want to share a recipe with you that is supposed to be a healthier version of fruit pizza.  I found this on the Taste of Home website and this recipe supposedly has less fat, calories, and cholesterol than the traditional version. I hope it's good because I'm planning on making it when we go watch football with friends this weekend.

Makeover Fruit Pizza

1 c. all purpose flour
1/4 c. confectioners sugar
1/2 c. cold butter
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese - light
1/3 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. fresh strawberries, halved
1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. fresh blueberries

Glaze:
5 tsp. cornstarch
1 1/4 c. unsweetened pineapple juice
1 tsp. lemon juice

Directions:
* In a large bowl, combine flour and confectioners sugar.  Cut in butter until crumbly.  Press onto an ungreased 12 inch pizza pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until very lightly browned.  Cool on a wire rack.
* In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.  Spread over crust.  Arrange the strawberries, oranges and blueberries on top.
* For glaze, in a small saucepan, combine the cornstarch, pineapple juice, and lemon juice until smooth.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.   Cool slightly.  Drizzle over fruit.  Refrigerate until chilled.

Makes 16 servings - 1 slice equals 170 calories, 9 g  fat, 25 mg cholesterol.

I'm going to head on over to Colleen's place and see she's been cooking up.  I've always found some really good recipes over there - why don't you join me?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Now onto Fit Friday.  Has everyone been trying to treat their body a little better by eating right and exercising a little more?  I have to say that I have been exercising more and I have been trying to eat better - it hasn't happened every day, but I'm trying. 

Speaking of eating better, has anyone tried a new food or new recipe lately?  Tempt your tastebuds and try something new - you might just find your new favorite food.  Yesterday for break Rochella brought a turnip to share.  She is a healthy eater and is trying hard to show us (all the girls at work) how easy it is to eat "healthy snacks".  I think it's safe to say that we all liked the turnip, especially when it was dipped in a little bit of ranch dressing.  Ok, maybe that part isn't so healthy, but we're working on it.  Turnips taste a little bit like a radish, but not as "hot" and I did like the crunch factor too.  After doing a little research on turnips I have found out that they are good with sea salt sprinkled on them and have some good nutritional value.  Turnips are also low in saturated fat and cholesterol, high in dietary fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, potassium and copper. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Have a great, warm, wonderful weekend.  I hope you find some new recipes to try over at Colleen's blog, try a new food, and find some type of exercise that makes your body feel good.

Breakfast Recipe & Watcha Working on Wednesday

I have to admit that I feel pretty blah and boring this week.  Nothing new to blog about except cleaning house, basketball for both boys, snow and cold.  At Carl's request, I'm making this recipe for breakfast (again) today and it definitely is not a healthy food but it beats eating a big chocolate donut :)  Janna shared this recipe with all of us at work and I'm so glad she did.  Let's see - Janna has earned major brownie points with me and my family for this recipe AND telling me about Pioneer Woman (luuuuuuuvvvvv P-Dub).

Rochella and Janna

Sausage Bread Roll

1 lb. breakfast sausage

1 loaf bread dough (the bag with 3 frozen loaves)

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (or more)

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1 egg

Let loaf of bread thaw over night.  When ready to bake the bread, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Brown the sausage and add green pepper and onion when sausage is almost cooked.  Continue cooking the mixture until sausage is cooked through and veggies are slightly tender.  Add egg and stir until egg is incorporated.

On floured surface, roll out dough into a rectangle about 12 inches x 6 inches.  Place sausage mix down the middle of the rolled out bread, top with cheeses, and roll bread up tucking in ends (roll bread the long way - not so that it looks like a loaf of bread when you're done).  Lay seam side down on baking stone or cooking sheet lined with foil, forming a half-circle.  Bake for 20 minutes or until bread is done.  Let cool slightly and cut into wedges. 

I also rub some olive oil on top of the bread so that it will brown when it bakes.  I have also rolled the dough up like a loaf of bread and baked it at 350 for 50 minutes.  No matter how you roll, it still tastes great!  Since I've made this twice in the last week, you would think that I would have thought to take a picture :)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

So, what have I been working on this week.  Hmmmmm......do I share this? I've been thinking about this for a few days and it's a big one (to me at least).

Are you ready?

You might just fall off your seat if you see this......

I've been cleaning off my desk.  I think it's somewhere under all that stuff.

Are you still standing?  Mouth hanging open?  I'm going to start off by saying that I'm a pile person.  I used to have piles of papers all over the house and the Big C didn't like it.  I didn't even like it!  So, the piles are now contained to my desk which Carl calls the black hole.  My New Years goal - not a resolution - is to organize my piles and I'm happy to say that I'm on my way there.

This weekend I'm going to check out some organizing sites to find some cute little items to help me reach my goal.  Janna (she's so full of information) told me about The Organized Parent and See Jane Work and each site has some of the cutest stuff! 

Wow, I can't believe I shared those pictures with everyone. 

Moving on......did anyone watch American Idol last night?  Always entertaining :) 

I'm on my way over to My Country Home to see what Leslie and everyone else has been working on this past week.  I bet she's been working on a quilt for her daughter - it's really cute and I love the colors she picked out.  Plus Donna at One Simple Country Girl  has been very busy lately. She is having her first giveaway and crocheted a white afghan with red ribbon trim, made 3 heart bowl fillers (live, laugh, love), and has some great smelling candles to finish it off.  These ladies are on it!!  I really like reading other blogs because it gets me motivated to bake, save money, be creative and crafty, and so on.....

Time to say goodnight and get some rest.  I hope the rest of your week is productive, fun, enjoyable, full of laughter and sunshine.

Fit Friday - Finding Your Motivation

Welcome to Fit Friday.  Last week we covered some basic good health guidelines and now we need to talk about one more piece to the puzzle - MOTIVATION.  The definition of motivation is to give reason, incentive, enthusiasm, or interest that causes a specific action or certain behavior.

I've been thinking lately about my inspiration and motivation to get in shape and lead a healthier lifestyle.  Most recently it is to feel better physically.  I've had alot of problems with my knees during the last year and exercise hasn't always been easy or I haven't been able to exercise at all.  Another motivator is to look better in my clothes - I tend to carry extra weight around my middle (now I know why it's called a spare tire).  Another motivator is that I just feel better. 

There are all kinds of things that can motivate you to stay focused and reach your goals.  The key is to find what works for you even if it changes from time to time.  I've always heard that keeping a journal or food diary is very helpful.  Exercising with a family member, friend, or co-worker is also another great way to stay motivated and encouraged.  These are some of my top motivators:

*  Pictures from when I was at my goal weight.
*  Finding some good recipes to try.  Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger has some good recipes to try.
*  Talking to friends about our exercise routines.  I need some variety in my routine or else I get very bored!  Check out Collage Video if you are looking for something new.
*  A kind word from my husband or my boys.  Encouraging words can be so uplifting, especially when they come from someone special :)
*  Reading other people's stories of success and failure.  There is so much to be learned from others! I like watching The Biggest Loser, reading Prevention, Shape Magazine, and Weight Watchers.   I also saw a blurb about DHC National Body Challenge - check it out here.
*  Sometimes it's nice to have an exercise buddy.  Last summer I would ride with Roxana and it made the miles not seem so long.  Can't wait to hit the road again this summer.
*  Seeing results of my hard work!

So, take some time to figure out what your motivation is.  Find a picture, a quote, a favorite outfit - search the net for one article or story that will stick with you, something that will keep you focused on reaching your goal. 

Yes, in our dream world, we would all be thin like one of those Hollywood starlettes, but it's not all about being thin - it's all about your health.

I'm ready for a heat wave

We have had some really cold days here and now the weatherman is forecasting more snow tonight through Friday morning.  I know we don't have the snow that people to the east of us have, but for me personally, I'm tired of the snow and being so cold.  On a more positive note, I think this has been one of the warmest mornings lately - a high of 13 degrees.  Well, tonight we'll be having 16 bean soup and rolls for dinner and that should warm us up even more.  Carl and Kyle even put a heat lamp out in the dog house for Snickers and Harley.  I can tell it's a cold day when Harley doesn't come out of the dog house when the sun comes up. 

The boys went back to school yesterday and somehow they managed to make the bus.  I was a happy mom!!  Now we are back in the regular schedule of homework, basketball practices and games and I have to admit that I'm looking forward to it. 

I've been working on painting furniture this week and I'm really happy with the sewing machine drawer, but I'm not so sure about the old window that I painted.  To see the before picture of the sewing machine drawer, click here.  I started by painting the drawer black - 2 coats inside and out.

Then I painted it a golden yellow - 2 coats inside and out.  After the paint was completely dry, I took a palm sander and lightly sanded the outside and as much of the inside that I could get to.

Then I put some Minwax Golden Oak stain on and  let it dry for a couple of hours.

Here it is on my counter complete with some old canning jars.

Instead of working on the red cabinet that I talked about last week, I decided to work on this old window that I've had hanging in my house for a couple of years.  I love how big it is, but it needs something.....

My plan was to do something to this that would be similar to the sewing machine drawer.  I'm kind of a matchy-matchy person when it comes to decorating, and in my front hall I have a black bench thingy and the red cabinet.  That goes right into my kitchen which is decorated in black, golden yellow, and red (preferrably barn red).  I was going to leave it black, sand it and then put stain over it - not sure I like it.  What do you think - stain is on the top and partially down the right side.

Since I didn't put stain over the entire window, I put some red and brown paint on one side to see how it would look.  Not sure I like that either.

Any ideas?  I really don't want to do the golden yellow and was hoping that the black by iteself would look right.   Maybe I need darker stain. 

Here are the products that I used.

 

I'm also painting the frame to a picture that hangs in our  bathroom.  I started this and forgot to take the shiny off the frame and had to start all over - my goal is to have it finished this weekend and get the bathroom back in order.

For inspiration and instructions on how to start your own refinishing projects, check out A Primitive Place blog.  So many ideas, so little time...  I'm going to Leslie's blog to check out what everyone else is working on for Watcha Working on Wednesday.

Stay warm, be productive, and have a great week! 

Menu Plan Monday and Goodwill finds

Ok, I have to confess.......I'm on a Goodwill kick.  I'm addicted and my husband is not happy because I keep bringing more stuff home.  But....I am slowly clearing out items at home to replace what I bought from Goodwill :)  Here are my purchases - more Pyrex and a bookshelf that I want to paint and put upstairs for the boys - the picture of the bookshelf didn't turn out good no matter where I took the picture, but I'm sure you get the idea.

      

I've found another blog courtesy of Colleen and it's called I'm An Organizing Junkie and she does Menu Plan Monday.  My husband has decided that our family motto for 2010 is "Be Responsible" and this sounds like something that will help me to be responsible with my organizing and making better meals for my family.  Here is our menu for this week and I hope that you will check out Menu Plan Monday!

Monday:  Sausage and Vegetable Skillet, pasta

Tuesday:  Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage, white rice, fruit

Wednesday:  16 Bean Soup with Ham (recipe from the bag of dried beans), biscuits

Thursday:  Spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread

Friday:  Leftovers

Saturday:  Zatarain's Smothered Chicken and Rice

Have a great day everyone and see you tomorrow for Watcha Working on Wednesday with Leslie.

For Peggy and Kate plus my Goodwill finds

Oh Peggy, how I wish you were a blogger!  This blog I found is perfect for you.  And Kate, you might need to take a road trip.  This blog is called Artsy Fartsy Junk Finds and they have soooo much cool stuff.  I think I'm even addicted.  Their header description reads:  to all of us junk girls, trash can divers, and roadside junk junkes!  And, check out this blog A Day In the life of a hillbilly. Scroll all the way down to her inspirational picture - it's soooo cute! 

We went to Indianapolis yesterday and I hit one of the Goodwill stores over there and found these 2 little gems.  I don't remember what these bowls are called, but I saw different versions of them this summer at garage sales and they were a bit pricey for me.  I paid $1.99 for this one - it needs to be cleaned up, but it's a keeper.  Sorry the picture isn't very good, I was using my phone and in a hurry.  The sign is perfect and I paid $4.99 for it. 

    

Well folks, it's time to exercise, take down my Christmas decorations, and work on my furniture refinishing projects.  Have a great weekend and stay warm.

Fit Friday

Good morning and welcome to the first Fit Friday!  Since it's January 1st, I'm wondering how many people made resolutions to lose weight, get in shape, start exercising, blah, blah, blah.  Well, lets work on it together this year.  Did you know that it takes 21 days to make/start/create a habit and most people that make resolutions to start exercising, etc., stop by or before January 21? 

Today I wanted to share a few good health guidelines with you taken from Weight Watchers:

1.  Eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables each day.  A serving is 1/2 cup except for leafy greens which are 1 cup per serving.  Fruits and veggies are full of fiber, water, vitamins, and minerals.  They add bulk to your meals and help you feel fuller for longer.

2.  Choose whole-grain foods whenever possible.  Try to make at least half of the grains you eat whole grains (wheat, oat, or multigrain bread instead of white bread, brown rice instead of white rice, whole wheat pasta instead of white pasta.  Ok that pasta trade-off is going to be a bit difficult for me.

3.  Include 2 servings of milk products each day.  Calcium helps strengthen bones and may protect against colon cancer and high blood pressure.  Milk products also supply your body with protein, zinc, riboflavin, vitamin D, and calcium.  If you are not able to include 2 servings each day, consider taking a calcium suupplement.  Also keep in mind thatt foods fortified with calcium don't contain the same nutrients as milk.

4.  Drink at least 6 glasses of water each day.  Water is essential for almost every one of your body's chemical processes. 

5.  Have some healthy oil each day.  Try eating more fish, nuts, and seeds.  Make sure you get two teaspoons of olive, canola, safflower, sunflower, or flaxseed oil each day so your body get the vitamin E and essential fatty acids it needs.

6.  Make sure you get enough protein.  You'll feel more satisifed if you get enough protein (a serving or two) each day.  Besides lean meat, protein is found in soy, beans, peas, lentils, milk, and eggs.

7.  Limit added sugar and alcohol.  Alcohol and sugary foods contain empty calories that don't keep you full for long.

8.  Take a multi vitamin-mineral supplement each day.  There are so many supplements on the market right now, so choose one that provides no more than 100 % of the Daily Value (%DV), Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI), or Dietary Reference Intake (DRI).

Here are two of my favorite videos that I would like to share with you.   The first one is Leslie Sansone Walk Away The Pounds for Abs.  I know it's an oldie, but I really like this video.  Leslie talks alot, but her voice is encouraging and she doesn't hoot and hollar - that drives me crazy when I'm trying to exercise.  The ab belt may look like it doesn't work, but my arms get a really good workout especially when I do the 2 or 3 mile walk.  I do have to say that I have purchased some of her other videos and I like the older videos better.

The second video is Cathe Friedrich Stretch Max.  She is serious about her workouts!  This video has 3 different programs on it:  band-based stretching which is my favorite, stability ball stretching, and non-equipment stretching.  She is no-nonsense in her approach and I know I'm getting a good stretch in when her DVD starts playing.

A great website to go to if you are wanting to buying an exercise DVD is Collage Video.  This site has hundreds of DVDs and you can watch a 60 second clip of each video plus read reviews.  They have a good discussion forum on their site also.

Well, this is all I have for today folks.  Good luck on your fitness quest and I hope you have enjoyed what I have shared with you today.  Happy 2010 and let's get healthy together.