Health Tip Tuesday: Coconut Oil

Ahh coconut oil.....where do I start. Well the thing is there's not really any place to start, there is so many great things about this oil! http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html check out this article on it, and its many benefits.

This is the kind that I buy. I was reluctant at first because it was $11 for this tub but I finally took the plunge and bought it. I'm amazed at how long it has lasted us. We mostly use it for cooking instead of olive or vegetable oil (these turn into hydrogenated oils once heated which aren't healthy). To every 3 tbsp of olive oil, you only need maybe 1 tbsp of coconut oil. 

On a different note, here is Wren enjoying herself while daddy picks apples.

She nibbled through a whole one apparently.

Health Tip Tuesday: Keep a Running Tally

I kind of debated putting this as a tip and then realized that I'm letting you know what works best for me. That being said, I know that this doesn't work for everyone and there are lots of articles out there saying specifically not to.

Jump on the scale! Yes I said it; jump on the scale. I probably weigh myself everyday and some people say this can be a bad thing which I understand to some degree. 1- Mostly because a number isn't everything and I get that (a number doesn't take muscle mass, height, bone structure, age, etc. into consideration, it's simply a number) 2- We can sometimes get obsessed over this 'meaningless' number.

Therefore, I encourage you to find your own method of keeping track of your body and its progress or lack of progress. When I step on the scale and I'm up a few pounds, then I drag myself out for a walk and cut out the sweets that day. If I'm on the lower end of my weight, then I proudly tell my husband to check me out. Weighing myself keeps me on track and stable.

Maybe your method might be how you fit into your jeans. Are you noticing a muffin top......(it doesn't even sound attractive) so get up and get moving! 

Is your stomach getting flatter even when you sit down? Then celebrate (but not with food).

It is important to note that your body is different every day. Some days you will be bigger or weigh more but this is why we keep track, so that we can be ever so cautious.

I leave you with this image: allow yourself some wiggle room but be careful when you get too close to the edge.

Gimme Your Recipes

I know, I know, slap on hand for me not keeping up with my posts like I said I would.

Here is our menu for the week:

Monday
- uggh, try to maybe eat a salad for me (Lane will be gone until 11PM)

Tuesday
- pasta with ground pork in a marinara sauce

Wednesday
- burritos filled with black beans and rice topped with avocados

Thursday
- baked potatoes with all the toppings and maple sausage (Ayla, I always think of you when I eat baked potatoes and you know why)

Friday
- slow cooked ribs with cornbread and fresh veggies on side

Saturday
- omelette with leftover veggies and leftover sausage

Sunday
- salad with fresh veggies and nuts

Wren can't get enough of nice, refreshing smoothies.

A big thanks to my husband, he finished our exterior window trim and shutters on the front
of the house. And then we thought, "what the heck, let's paint the front door too while we're at it".

I have a request........it seems that I might be getting in a rut, menu wise. I need some new ideas and recipes. So if you have a blog, post your favourite meal up (can be a link or, even better, pictures/recipe of your own creation) or if you don't have one, post in the comments below or on Facebook.

Health Tip Tuesday: Move It

So first things first, we all need to be doing a lot less of this.....

 

and this....

and start to love doing these.....

This week is about moving; move in any way you can. Sometimes (I know I'm very guilty of this), I sit around or try to go the 'easy' route (easy as in lazy). So find ways that you can move more throughout the day. Do you have a desk job? Then get up and walk around every half hour or simply hold a squat every half hour for 30 seconds. Do you take the bus to work? Walk to a bus stop another block away. Do you always try to find the closest parking spot to the door? Park at the back of the lot.

I love this girl's commuter.

A couple time a week I take time to do some Bikram Yoga. Good for body as well as mind!

Running, pretty much as cheap as fitness gets.

Rock climbing with the hubs is another favourite.

TRXing, something I'd really like to try.

This couple looks so lost in each other's presence. Take dance breaks throughout the day.

Saving the best for last (something we haven't been able to do for the last couple years), SURFING!!

What is your favourite way to move? I want to hear lots more ideas.

Namaste

Playland Adventures

Grandma T is here!!! And we really couldn't be more excited. We met for breakfast in the morning at the cutest little place call The Red Wagon (sorry no pictures of it) then we headed down the street to the PNE at Playland. Out of 21 years that I've lived in the Fraser Valley, I've never been so we thought now would be a good time to go.

Children, don't try this at home.

We watched an amazing show by the Peking Acrobats (closest thing to a circus I've ever seen too).

Ya that's right, that's 10 people on a  bike.

Sugared Whale Tale: delicious.

The food was so amazing there, no one would ever go hungry (well maybe if you didn't have any money-prices were steep).

P-U, it stinks in here. Those are pregnant cows behind Wren.

There was a lovely farm exhibit that we went through that included, pig races, animals, gardening, Kidz Discovery Farm, honey bees etc. Was pretty cool.

Braids.

Wren and Grandma T.

I will remember this face when I take a bite of thanksgiving turkey.

Moooooo

Tiny little chicks, super cute.

A calf which I petted, surprisingly was really warm.

Mmmm, lunch.

"Mom, can I have a bite please?"

Lollipops are the coolest!

Just quenching our thirst.

Sandcastle competition where artists did an incredible job on these. 

We didn't go on any rides but they were sure fun scary to watch. 

If you don't know this already, I deathly afraid of rides.

Ok, maybe not this ride.

The all too famous wooden roller coaster. Built in the 50's. 

Finished out day with some gelato, yum yum.

We had an awesome day, weather turned out to be great even though forecast called for rain. So glad we went, will definitely be a summertime tradition in our household.

Health Tip Tuesday: Size Matters

Portion size definitely, 100% matters. Today we will focus on controlling that with plate size. The size of the plates we use on a daily basis.....

Look at all the gorgeous patterns.

I know that when shopping for dishes, they will usually come in sets. Sets that will consist of "dinner" plates (commonly 10"), dessert or side plates (usually 8"), and some bowls and mugs maybe too. The way they are labeled just makes it seem like we are obligated to use that 10" "dinner" plate for our main course in our meal.....so wrong. 

In the above picture, see those smaller plates in the front there? Those are the ones we should be grabbing before we load up for dinner. And this is why: for some reason we feel the urge to complete every single bite left on our plate before declaring we are full. And maybe this urge exists because we were taught just that - to "not waste". This is something I do and I don't even know if I can consciously help it; but what I (and we) can do is just make the plate we use smaller, therefore, less food is sitting there begging for consumption. See how simple that is? Mind tricks, I know.

Our 10" plates have gone untouched for quite a while now (mostly only used when company are here) and I can honestly say we aren't missing much - but my fat jeans are sure missing me. 

Check out these super cute plates from French Bull

I want to hear some clever names for that 8" plate that will guide us into thinking that it is truly superior to that  lousy ol' 10" plate. Post in comments.

Health Tip Tuesday: Water

Drink more water!

Simple, pure, refreshing water.

Our body is approximately 60% water (that's over half people) so we need to be replenishing ourselves - clearing out toxins, lubricating our joints/organs, etc. The list could go on and on for the health benefits of water and I don't want to bore you so I'll make it simple: water is ESSENTIAL and there is NO substitute for it.

By substitute, I mean this: 

or this:

or any of this:

and even this (not even the diet kind, believe me you 

aren't doing your body any favours by drinking diet):

You aren't going to go wrong when you drink water - pure water. 

If for some crazy reason you think water is bland and tasteless (you will learn to love it if you cut out 100% of all other drinks), you can add fruit or veggie slices to your water. This will give the water a touch of flavour  without the added sugar and other nasty things that are in beverages these days.

There are some drinks, of course, that have definite benefits. An example is tea. I drink a large cup of green, honey-lemon-ginseng-tea in the morning. I used to really love coffee but after being told that maybe my body isn't responding to it well and I should try switching to green tea, I have lost that tummy pooch and haven't had an afternoon sugar low. So be careful with coffee, apparently lots of people don't handle it well and don't even know it. Listen to your body!

So maybe you are someone that doesn't drink any pure water in a day. Then I suggest switching one of your other beverages to water each day until you are mostly drinking water. Maybe you are someone that doesn't drink much water or drink much of anything else either, then I suggest you adopt the water bottle as your new accessory. Carry it everywhere with you and take little sips every few minutes.

Personally, I love a stainless steel water bottle. They seem to keep the water cold longer.

So what do ya say? Join me in the H20 revolution!