Don't Be a Plump Turkey at Thanksgiving

One of the great traditions at Thanksgiving is the Thanksgiving meal. If you're like me, you eat all day until you feel miserable. Why do we do this? How did this act of gluttony become part of a holiday of giving thanks? Now, I'm not saying "pigging-out" every once in a while is wrong, but why do we sabotage our healthy habits for a full week of indulgences? How can we enjoy family, food and fun at Thanksgiving and keep from feeling miserable the entire time? Here are some helpful hints:

1. Don't make it Thanksgiving WEEK! Thanksgiving is one day out of the year. One meal out of the day. Do your best to eat your calories up until Thursday lunch or dinner. Then eat the traditional leftover turkey meal on Friday, then STOP! Pick back up with your calorie counting on Saturday.

2. Don't be a cow! For the one meal, sure, be a cow or pig or whatever barnyard animal you want to be. But, other than that, stay out of the kitchen. Don't be a grazer. This is my weakness. I love to eat constantly on Thursday and Friday because it's there. Get away! Do something busy, get out of the house, go for a walk, play on the Wii, take a nap, anything to stay out of the kitchen.

3. Don't eat what you don't like. Why would you want to gain weight on food you don't even enjoy eating? Just because it is sitting there doesn't mean you have to put it on your plate. If you think you might offend somebody by not eating the green bean casserole they brought, put a little on your plate, THEN DON'T EAT IT!

4. Get full on the good stuff. Eat the healthy stuff first, then eat a few bites of the big calorie items. Turkey (white meat), most veggies, fruit, cranberries, etc. fill up on these items. Then, go lightly on breads, casseroles, mashed potatoes and desserts.

5. Get active. Instead of sitting around all holiday long, get up! Thursday morning before the parades go for a family walk or do a local turkey trot. Before the Cowboys lose have a family football game in the front yard. Ladies, on Friday go shopping. You don't have to buy anything, just get out of the house (away from the food) and go walking around the malls. Surely all that dodging and fighting for items can burn some calories.

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for family, friends and health. Let's enjoy ourselves without being miserable the entire week.

Deals this Week 11/7

It has been a LLOONNGG week! I'm not going to give you all of my excuses; I'm just going to make this quick and easy for you. If you want to see some of the best deals this week at CVS and Walgreen's then check out Money Saving Mom's website. I didn't find anything exciting enough to work out a plan for unless you need some stuff to bake with (Walgreen's) or some Garnier goodies (also Walgreen's).

Have a great week and hopefully we'll be back Tuesday evening with a fitness-related post.

Roller Coaster Halloween with CVS & Walgreen's

Wow! What a roller coaster day! Please be praying for the Brashear family as they lost their 8-year old daughter, Anna, to complications of leukemia today. She was diagnosed less than two weeks ago. Her mom told me today that her passing was God's way of keeping her from suffering. She also said to give your kids extra hugs every day.

We've also had a lot of fun today. It was Rangers Day at church so we all wore our Rangers t-shirts. Then the kids put their costumes on for their cousin's birthday party, our church's carnival and trick-or-treating in the neighborhood.

Somewhere in the middle of all of this I stopped by CVS and Walgreen's. I had an $8 Register Reward to Walgreen's that expired today so I had to use it. Here's what I did there:

Transaction #1
Zarbee's Cough Syrup - $5.99
Cotton Balls - $1.59
     Wags Cpn - $.60 off
Nail Polish Remover - $1.79
     Wags Cpn - $.80 off
M&Ms - $.59
     Wags Cpn - $.10 off
Total: $8.46
     Register Reward - $8
     Total OOP - $.46
     Register Rewards Earned - $6

Transaction #2
Febreeze Flameless Candle - $11.99 (25% off)
     Febreeze Cpn - PG mailer - $4.00
Febreeze Flameless Refills - $5.49
     Febreeze Cpn - Buy Candle, Get Refills Free - PG 10/31 - $5.49
M&Ms - .59 (needed one more item to use my RR)
     Wags Cpn - $.10 off
Total: $8.68
     Register Reward - $6
     Total OOP - $2.68

It was a little more than I expected, but still great. Online the candle was only $11.25 and I didn't think about needing a third item so I spent $1.23 more than I planned. Oh well!! Here's what I did at CVS:

Transaction #1
Oral B Cross Action Power Toothbrush - $4.99
     Oral B Cpn - PG 10/31 - $3 off
Total: $1.99
     ECBs - $2 (changed down to $1.99)
     Total OOP - $0.00
     ECBs earned - $2

Transaction #2
Bounce Dryer Bar 2 pack - $3.99
     Bounce Cpn - Vocalpoint mailer - $2.50 off
Rice Krispies Treat - $.99 (the shelf said $.69, but I didn't check it and was charged $.99)
Total: $2.50
     ECBs - $2
     Total OOP - $.50

I hope you all have a great week!

Top Ten Halloween Candies

Here's a list of ten of the most popular Halloween candies. We've added the amount of candy that will equal 100 calories. How much will you eat??

10. Tootsie Rolls - 2 small rolls

9.  Dum Dums - 4 suckers

8.  Popcorn Balls - 1 ball

7.  Smarties - 4 rolls

6.  Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins - 1/2 pumpkin

5.  Dots - 9 dots

4.  Fun Dip - 2 sugar packs and 1-1/3 sticks

3.  Nerds - 1/2 box

2.  Candy Corn - 15 pieces

1.  Mini Snickers - 2 pieces

Diet Myths Revealed

In this world of gimmick exercise equipment and fad dieting, it's very difficult to know what is "the best" way to lose weight and keep it off. It is also hard to know who to listen to and believe. Here are a few examples of some dieting myths that are out there.

1.  Skip Meals to Lose Weight. Fact: Skipping any meal can cause your metabolism to slow down. You want the "fire" to be continuously stoked. Skipping meals is like letting that campfire die down. Never skip meals, especially breakfast; it is the most important meal.

2.  Fad Diets Work. Fact: Fad diets rarely work and are usually too hard to stick to. Most people will lose weight initially, probably because they are simply doing something different. But, because most fad diets cut something (whether fat, protein or carbs) once it is reintroduced you crave more of what you have been missing.

3.  Eating All Day Boosts Metabolism. Fact: Eating small meals throughout the day can keep your metabolism at a higher level. But the danger here is eating too many calories all day. If you are going to eat six meals throughout the day they must be small. For example, if you need to eat 1800 calories to lose weight, breakfast, lunch and dinner should be around 400 calories each and the three snacks need to be around 200.

4.  Never Eat After 8PM. Fact: It isn't when you eat, but what and how much. Fat won't collect overnight. Your metabolism will take care of you, even at rest.

5.  Certain Foods Can Burn Fat. Fact: No food can burn fat. Some, like caffeine, can speed up metabolism for a short time. The only way to burn fat is to put on lean muscle and increase your activity level.

As always, the best way to lose weight is to cut your calories and be more physically active.

CVS & Walgreen's 10/17/10

Well, last week I shopped some at Sam's and a lot at Kroger. I spent almost double what I had been spending lately, but this week all I needed to buy was bread and milk. There were a couple of good deals at CVS this week and a lot at Walgreen's. At CVS I planned to buy 6 things of Mentos gum, a hand sanitizer that CVS sent out a free coupon for and a bag of candy because I was going to have overage with the gum and needed to buy something so that they didn't owe me money. They were out of the gum, so here's what I did:

CVS Hand Sanitizer - $1.99
     CVS coupon - $1.99
Bag of Fun Size Skittles - $2.50 (Regular $4, shelf price said $3, not sure why it was just $2.50)
     CVS coupon when I scanned my card at the door - $1
Total OOP - $1.62 (I had planned to use a $2 ECB that I had, but the cost was not high enough)

At Walgreen's I didn't think I would be able to find anything, but I actually found it all. The only thing that didn't work out the way I planned was that she had to lower the value of my coupons so that I did not get any overage. It was a difference of $1. Here's what I did:

Transaction #1
Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment - $2.59
Nivea Men's Body Wash - $2.50
     Nivea - 10/17 SS - $3/1 (adjusted down to $2.50)
3 Campbell's "Cream of" Soups - $1.59 each
     Walgreen's Ad - $.79 each
     Campbell's Printable - $1.50/3
Caramel Candy - $.33 (because I had more coupons than items, I think)
     Register Rewards from last week - $1.50 and $1
     Total OOP - $1.29
Register Rewards Earned - $2.60

Transaction #2
Mucinex Nasal Spray - $7.99
2 Ricola Cough Drops - $1.00 each
     Walgreen's Monthly Coupon Book - $.50 each
     Ricola - 10/17 SS - $1/2
2 Coffeemate Creamers - $2.49 each
     Walgreen's Ad - B1G1 Free
     2 Coffee-mate Printables - $1.50 (adjusted down)
     Register Rewards from Trans #1 - $2.60
     Total OOP - $5.59
Register Rewards Earned - $8.00

So, considering Register Rewards and cash, I was out $1.38 for all 11 products. I'm pleased with that! Plus, it gives me a good start on any deals next week with my $8 RR.

Be on the lookout tomorrow for some deals with Swagbucks. It sounds to me like they will be doing something special for anyone new that signs up. I'll keep you posted on my Facebook. Have a fabulous week!!

Just Say No

Childhood obesity is at an epidemic level. Why do so many kids eat unhealthy foods and so much of it? Why do so many kids sit around and do nothing? Why are so many kids being diagnosed with childhood diabetes? Because parents cannot say "no" to their children. Parents need to stop treating their kids like their best friends and treat them like what they are - KIDS! We wouldn't let them play on the highway or do dangerous drugs, so why do we let them eat whatever they want and play video games and watch TV for hours. Let's make a change! Here are some suggestions:

1. Take family walks. What better way to talk and bond with our children than to walk or ride bikes with them.

2. Give them chores that are active. If they are old enough, have them mow the lawn, wash the car, sweep, mop, etc. Again, make it a family activity.

3. Limit TV, Internet and Video Games. Limit them to 1 or 2 hours per day; whatever you feel is best. Another way to do it is to make deals or trade-offs. One hour of activity for every hour of the other things. We need them to be active!

4. Include them in your workouts. If you do any exercising at home have your kids take part. They will learn from your example. If you don't exercise, start! If you show them how important it is to you, it will start to become important to them.

5. Do a "walk pool". If it is safe, have a group of kids in your neighborhood walk or ride their bikes to school together.

The bottom line is that it is the same for them as it is for us: burn more calories than you eat. They need to eat less and move more!

Coupon Survey

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Swidget 1.0

Why Should I Use Swagbucks?

Well, last week I didn't get a chance to sit and write a blog about my deals of the week. And this week I didn't get a chance to research any deals of the week because we were out of town. So, I've decided to tell you a little more about Swagbucks. I'm fairly new to it, but so far it has been GREAT! I've had my account for less than two months and I have already redeemed $15 in Amazon giftcards. I'm only a few days away from another $5 one!  Christmas is just three months away, and I hope to get several gifts from Amazon using my Swagbucks. It's not too late, you can do it too!

First off you need to go here to create an account. It's free and doesn't require any sensitive personal information. Plus, you get 30 free bucks just for creating an account.

Once you have an account you should download their toolbar. It gives you a search box, your total bucks and links to everything you might need from the Swagbucks site.

Use the search box!! There's no guarantee of earning bucks for searches, but I have been very successful with searching a little in the morning, in the afternoon and then late in the evening. I also stay signed in on my phone and do my mobile searches through Swagbucks. I usually earn anywhere from 6-12 bucks up to three times each day.

They also reward you for using their tools. I get one buck each day for having the toolbar, one buck each day for skipping through the NOSO (no obligation special offers), one buck each day for participating in the Daily Poll, and one buck each day for checking to see if any Trusted Surveys are available for me.

After you have been a member for one week, you are eligible to take the Trusted Surveys. The best part of this starting off is that you have around 15 profile surveys to take that you get rewarded for. I've been able to participate in about three Trusted Surveys. They have been VERY interesting! One of them I was able to watch several potential commercials and give my opinions about them. Natalie was asked to do one where she watched a movie trailer and then answered questions about how interesting the movie looked to her.

By the way, there are thousands of rewards that you can use your bucks for if you are not interested in Amazon giftcards. I just do the Amazon giftcards because I know that I will use them and Amazon lets you stack as many as you want.

So, what are you waiting for?? Free money is never a bad thing!!

Top Ten Worst Restaurant Desserts

Well, we all expect restaurant desserts to be bad for us, but just how bad? Even with all of the workouts that I (Aimee) do, four of these desserts are more calories than I should have in a day! Sheesh!!!

10. Olive Garden - Zeppoli with Chocolate Sauce - 1130 calories

 9.  Chili's - Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie or Brownie Sundae - 1290 calories

 8.  On The Border - Sopapillas (5) - 1350 calories

 7.  Red Robin - Mountain High Mudd Pie - 1373 calories

 6.  Red Lobster - Chocolate Wave - 1490 calories

 5.  P.F. Chang's - The Great Wall of Chocolate - 1532 calories

 4.  Applebee's - Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae - 1660 calories

 3.  Johnny Carino's - Mascarpone Bread Pudding - 1678 calories

 2.  Cheesecake Factory - Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake - 1680 calories

 1.  Outback Steakhouse - Sweet Adventure Sampler Trio - 2394 calories

Does God Care If We're Fat?

Hopefully you know the answer to this question is yes. God knows the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30). He cares about every aspect of our lives. I truly believe God wants us to be healthy in every way. He wants us to be healthy physically, socially and especially spiritually.

Let's take a look at a few verses and see what God has to say about being healthy throughout His Word.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." Two things I see from this well-known verse. First, Paul compares our body to a temple. A place where God is worshipped and where people take extreme care to make it look nice. Second, Paul says to glorify God with our body. How many of us glorify God with our body, whether it's what we look at, say or put into our bodies?

1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."  Paul is a little more obvious with this one. "Whatever" we do should be for His glory. If we are constantly eating, without any thought of what it can do to our bodies, we are not glorifying God.

Galatians 5:16-17 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please."  What pleases us does not always please God. I see sexuality, a lust of the flesh, as being very similar to over-eating, also a lust of the flesh. If we cannot control our eating habits, how can we be expected to control other habits that separate us from all that God has to offer. The verse at the end says the things that we "please". The opposite sex can be "pleasing" to the eye, but there is plenty in the Bible to be said about lust. The sight of food can be similar when we give in to over-eating. The buffet is "pleasing" to us, but we do not glorify Him when it causes us to be lazy and tired.

This is just a very small sample of what God has for us in the area of over-eating. In some ways you can insert smoking, drunkenness, laziness, anger, etc. into the same points. If we are overweight, we cannot do the things for God and other people that we are capable of doing. How much more can we accomplish if we are healthy and full of energy. He may not care if we have "washboard" abs, but He definitely wants us to have a full and abundant life!

Top Ten Most Unhealthy Fast Foods

You can't get around the fact that we are a fast-food society, but here are 10 choices that you should definitely avoid.

10. McDonald's Big Breakfast with Hot Cakes (Large Sized Biscuit) - 1150 calories...Yes, breakfast should be the biggest meal of the day, but not if you can only eat 500 more calories that day! Another option if you need bread, meat and egg would be the Sausage McMuffin with Egg for 450 calories.

9.  Jack in the Box's Oreo Cookie Shake with Whipped Topping - 24 oz - 1170 calories...While this is a delicious shake, in my opinion, it is so not worth that many calories. Maybe the Chocolate Overload Cake at 300 calories would be a better choice.

8.  Burger King's Triple Whopper with Cheese - 1250 calories...Build it your way as a single with cheese to save almost 500 calories.

7.  Sonic's Spicy Southwest Loaded Burger - Double - 1410 calories...Forget loading it, the Jalapeno Burger is "just" 550 calories.

6.  Dairy Queen's Six Strip Chicken Strip Basket - 1410 calories...You would have to eat more than 5 of Dairy Queen's Barbecue Beef Sandwiches to get that many calories.

5.  Domino's Three Cheese Mac-N-Cheese Breadbowl Pasta - 1460...An entire Medium Thin Crust Cheese Pizza is less calories than this breadbowl.

4.  Carl's Jrs Double Six Dollar Burger - 1520 calories...Make it a Single Six Dollar Cheeseburger to save half of the calories.

3.  Taco Bueno's Beef Mucho Nachos - 1570 calories...You can save 640 calories if you leave off the Cheddar Cheese, Chili, Refried Beans and Sour Cream, but then you may as well just eat a bunch of chips.

2.  Whataburger's Whatacatch Dinner (2 pieces) - 1630 calories...Instead of having to run a half marathon to burn it off, just eat a Whatacatch Sandwich and run a 5k.

1.  Quizno's Large Tuna Melt - 1760 calories...Really, tuna, really?? You would think it would be better because it is fish, but the Large Triple Meat Club shaves off about 800 calories.

Working Out...At Work?

One big excuse I hear all the time is that "I work too much, and have no time to exercise." Let me see if I can help you find the time to workout at work. I'll assume that most of you don't have the privilege to move constantly for their job like Aimee and I get to do. Many of you sit at a desk for a majority of your day. If this is the case, here are a few hints to make your day more productive for your waist-line:

1. Sit on an Exercise Ball. Sitting upright on a exercise ball can strengthen your abs and help with your posture.

2. Set Your Watch. Make your alarm go off every hour on the hour. At this point get up and move. Do several push-ups and crunches before you sit back down.

3. Take the Stairs. If you have a multi-level building, forget that there is an elevator and take the stairs for everything. If you have to go to the bathroom, go to a different floor.

4. Bring Your Lunch to Work.  This is not only good for your waist-line, it's also a help for your wallet.

5. Do it the "Old-Fashioned Way". Instead of talking to all of your co-workers through e-mail, go walk to them and speak face-to-face.

6. Keep Workout Equipment Under Your Desk. Dumbbells and bands can easily be kept in or under your desk for a quick set.

7. Hands-Free. Get a headset if you're on the phone quite a bit. While you are talking to potential clients you can do laps around your desk.

The biggest thing is to just keep moving. Research tells us that quality exercise is qualitative over the entire day. Make every minute count!

CVS Deals for 9/5 - 9/11

I did all of our grocery shopping today because we have plans tomorrow evening and we were already out of bread. I just went to Wal-Mart since we were on that side of town; I saved $6.55 with coupons and only spent around $70. I do plan to go to CVS tomorrow to get some free gum and Sobe drinks. None of the other deals at CVS or Walgreen's seemed to be very good. Here's my plan:

2 - Trident Layers Gum - $.99 each
     Facebook Coupon - $1/2
     ECB from last week - $1
4 - SoBe lifewater - B1G1
     2 Heads or Tails Game Coupons - B1G1
Total OOP - $0.00
ECBs earned - $1

On the SoBe site you can only play the game once per day, but you can print the coupon twice. After the coupon prints the first time use your back button. Then refresh the page and tell it to "Retry" to send the information again. This will send it to your printer twice. You can do that with most internet printables. On sites like coupons.com they still count it towards your limit of prints, so it's not "cheating the system".

By the way, there will be no coupons in this week's paper because it is a holiday weekend. Have a great Labor Day!!

Top Ten Calorie Burners

We all want to make the most of our time. Here is a list ranking 10 common exercises by how many calories you can burn in one hour (based on a 150 lb person).

10.  Walking 4mph (Brisk).............352

  7.  Stationary Bike (Moderate).....493

  7.  Swimming (Freestyle-Slow).....493

  7.  Racquetball.............................493

  6.  Basketball...............................563

  5.  Step Aerobics.........................598

  4.  Jumping Rope.........................600

  3.  Stair Machine..........................633

  2.  Elliptical Trainer.......................760

  1.  Running (9 min mile).................774


By the way, if you take my BodyPump classes you can burn up to 600 calories in one class and in BodyCombat you can burn around 800 or so. So come to class if you're in Denton!!!

Walgreen's Deals & Groceries

You know what is so great about coupons? Even when I don't have a lot of coupons, if I pay attention to costs and have stocked up on some stuff, then I am still just spending around $80 a week. My weekly budget when I started this was $120. I hit that the first week and one other week I spent $100. Other than those two weeks I have spent between $60 and $80. That comes out to around $200 savings each month! WOW!!

Here's what I did at Walgreen's today:

Transaction #1
Hair & Nail Supplement - $10
Carmex Lip Balm - $2
Breathe Right 10-pk - $4
     Total OOP - $16.33
     Register Rewards Earned - $16

Transaction #2
2 - Crayola 8-ct Markers - $3.99 (Because I forgot to buy markers for Natalie's school supplies)
1 - Crayola 20-ct Markers - $3.99 (Just to have new markers at home)
3 - Packing Tape w/ Mount - $2.50 (Because we really might be moving SOON!)
6 - Kraft Easy Mac Cups - 3/$1 (Yummy!)
1 - Walgreen's 24-pk Bottled Water - $3.99 (Because we're not environmentally friendly)
1 - Caramel - $.33 (Cause they can't pay me)
     Wags Crayola - $1 off each
     Wags Packing Tape - $1.51 off each
     Wags Water - $1.50 off
     Wags Easy Mac - $.60 off each
     2 - Kraft Easy Mac - Buy 2, Get 1 Free - $1 off twice
     Register Rewards from Trans #1 - $16
     Total OOP - $.30

Total Walgreen's Savings - $36.63 or 68%

Cheap Easy Mac Cups @ Walgreen's

If you like Kraft Easy Mac, then you should go to Walgreen's tomorrow. The back of their ad has a coupon for $.59 Easy Macs with a limit of 3. Go here to get a Buy 2, Get 1 Free coupon. You can keep playing the game until you get enough points for the Easy Mac coupon. The coupon will make the 3 cups $.39 each. That's less than half of the normal price at Wal-Mart (the cheapest place I have found them).

Walgreen's also has some items that are free after Register Rewards. Two of the ones that interest me are Carmex Lip Balm and Breathe Right Strips. I figure I'll buy each of those and then use the Register Rewards to get the Easy Mac cups, 24-pack of water for $2.49, packing tape for $.99 and some Crayola markers for $2.99.

What deals are you planning??

Top Ten Worst Restaurant Salads

So, you're going out to eat and you've decided to "eat healthy". Are you gonna choose a salad? You may want to think twice about that. There are some good ones out there, but there are also a lot of really bad ones. Here's the top ten worst salads that we found and how long the average 150 pound person would have to walk to burn it off:

10. Jack in the Box - Chicken Club Salad w/ Crispy Chicken Strips and Bacon Ranch
      Dressing - 770 calories
          1 hour, 55 minutes of walking

9.  Carino's - Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad - 920 calories
          2 hours, 15 minutes of walking

8.   Zaxby's - Zensation Zalad w/ Blue Cheese Dressing - 1020 calories
          2 hours, 25 minutes of walking

7.   Chili's - Grilled BBQ Chicken Salad - 1050 calories
          2 hours, 30 minutes of walking

6.   Chili's - Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad - 1110 calories
          2 hours, 45 minutes of walking

5.   Applebee's - Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad - 1340 calories
          3 hours, 15 minutes of walking

4.   On the Border - Grande Taco Salad w/ Ground beef w/o dressing - 1380 calories
          3 hours, 25 minutes of walking

3.   Chili's - Quesadilla Explosion Salad - 1410 calories
          3 hours, 30 minutes of walking

2.   Outback - Queensland Salad w/ Mustard Viniagrette - 1410 calories
          3 hours, 30 minutes of walking

1.   Jason's Deli - Taco Salad with Chili w/o salsa - 1972 calories
          A WHOPPING 4 hours, 50 minutes of walking

Do you still want that "healthy" salad??

4 Healthy Things You Should Be Doing....But You Probably Aren't!

There are many key healthy things we could be doing but may not know how beneficial they really are. I want to make you aware of a few of these; anything you can do to make your journey to a more fit you, the better off you will be.

Run Sprints  This activity is a must. To be fit and healthy you must incorporate healthy eating, cardio activities and some kind of resistance training. Running sprints has similar benefits to cardio and weights. It increases your metabolism for a long period of time, builds leg muscles, improves endurance and aids in weight loss. If an injury keeps you from running, then do sprints on a bike, elliptical or other piece of cardio equipment.

Stretching or Yoga  Some men see yoga as a woman's activity. I have done it and know how extremely difficult it is. It takes strength, balance and flexibility to do many of the poses and activities. Stretching and/or yoga has many benefits including reducing muscle tension, blood circulation, range of motion in joints, better posture, stress relief and injury prevention.

Eating Breakfast  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Because of how busy we are in our country, when we get up to get ready for work or school, it is usually eating that takes a back seat. Breakfast is the fuel that gets the metabolism machine started. Other benefits include increased energy for morning tasks, keeps you from over-eating throughout the day and cuts your chances of heart disease and diabetes.

Drinking Water  This is probably the most important of the four. Most of us drink other things besides water. Soft drinks, juices, sports drinks; we may even drink "healthy" drinks like milk. But, nothing should take the place of water. A normal-sized adult with any kind of activity level should drink between 70-90 ounces of water or four to five 16-ounce bottles. Let me give you just a few of the many health benefits:
     1.  Detoxifies your body
     2.  Reduces the risk of kidney stones
     3. Lowers blood pressure and heart disease
     4.  Removes impurities in your skin
     5.  It's calorie free
     6.  Suppresses appetite
     7.  Protects joints
     8.  Protects our organs
I could go on and on. It seems like common sense, but it is not taken seriously enough. Drinking an above-normal amount of water is very important to your overall health and fitness levels.

There are other things that can be put on the list, but I would have to change the title. Seriously, add these four items to your healthy to-do list and it will benefit you right away.

Sunday's Quick Trip

Whew! I am SO glad that school has started again! But, the weekend of celebrating Natalie's birthday and getting ready for school to start left me having to shop as quick as I could. I left the house at 7:05 Sunday evening, went to CVS, Kroger and Walgreen's, and was home by 7:55 to put the kids to bed.

I had a great plan for CVS, but really didn't expect it all to work out that well. It didn't work out at all like I planned (they were out of a few items) but I still feel like it was a pretty good outcome. Earlier in the week I used my $7.99 ECBs because I was almost out of mascara. I got 2 things of mascara and ended up with $5 in ECBs to start this week. I am almost out of deodorant and we only had 1 Aleve tablet left so it worked out well. Here's what I did this week:

2 Mitchum for Women deodorant - $2.50 each
1 100-ct Aleve - $7.99
     Mitchum $1 (expired 8/22)
     Mitchum - 8/22 SmartSource - $.75
     Aleve - Coupons.com - $2
     ECBs from last week - $5
Total OOP - $4.24
ECBs earned - $1

Kroger was just where I went to get groceries this week because I had to be quick. I remembered why I have been shopping at the Kroger on the Loop! Wow, it was packed and I couldn't find things! Ughh!! I eventually found everything I needed except for almonds for Chris, but I remembered that those were on sale at Walgreen's this week. Soooo, I ran to Walgreen's and got a can on almonds for $1. They were on sale for $2 and I used a $1 off from 8/22 Smartsource.

Did you find any great deals this week?

Top Ten Reasons We LOVE Football Season

10. The BCS debate can begin again

9.  Makes the fall semester go fast

8.  Aikman & Buck

7.  Men across the country are allowed out of the house on Monday nights

6.  It's a week-long event - it seems like there is a game on every night

5.  College GameDay

4.  Cooler weather is coming

3.  Something worth watching on Saturdays

2.  Two teams you don't care about makes for the best background noise for a
     Sunday afternoon nap

1.  Ryan Raiders, Southside Rebels, Arkansas Razorbacks, North Texas Eagles
     and Dallas Cowboys

Fitness Mistakes to Avoid

We see many people start an exercise program, but if they don't see results or if they get hurt they just quit. If "rookie" mistakes are avoided then results will be seen and chances of injuries can be reduced. Here are some common mistakes and how to fix them.

1.  Hold On for Dear Life
     If you have ever seen Jillian on the show Biggest Loser, you know she screams at the contestants for holding handles of cardio equipment. Holding on allows you to "cheat". If you need to hang on then you may be going too fast. Slow down so that you will feel comfortable being able to use your arms and not fall off the treadmill (or whatever you are on).

2.  Heavy Hands
    Walking with hand weights is very unnecessary and can actually cause injury. In fact, walking with hand weights causes you to compromise your stride. The added weight causes you to lean slightly forward which, in turn can put undue stress on your ankles, quads and shins. The result can be stress fractures which will sabotage all your hard work.

3.  One Trick Ponies
     Many beginners, especially women, think they will be fine if all they do is walk every morning. Yes, walking is a great way to get in some cardio every day. However, you are only helping one area of your overall fitness. You must do some weight-bearing exercises two to three days a week. We start losing muscle at age 30. Strength training builds lean muscle, which increases metabolism, burns more calories and strengthens bones.

4.  Blah, Blah, Blah....
     Many beginners quit what should be a lifetime love of fitness because they get bored of their routine. Don't get stuck in a rut and definitely don't do things you absolutely hate. I saw something in a book call it a "play"-out instead of a work-out. I love running. I love what it does to my body. I love how I feel when I'm done. I really loved the sense of accomplishment after I ran a half-marathon. Aimee hates running; she shouldn't do it. Whatever you do have fun! You will then do it forever.

5.  Drinking Your Calories
     Unless you are a high level athlete like Michael Phelps, drinking sports drinks are unnecessary and can actually cause you to gain weight. The rest of us just need good ol' out-of-the-tap H2O. On that note, make sure you are getting enough of the "good stuff". Muscles need water to contract and work properly. If you don't drink enough, you can actually get muscle spasms, tears or aches. You should drink before, during and after your exercise. Also, to keep from dehydrating you should be drinking water throughout the entire day.

If you believe you are not doing something correctly then ask us or look it up. There is no dumb question when it comes to your health!

CVS Paid Me...

Wow! CVS and Kroger were great today! Somehow Natalie has managed to spread her birthday out this week from Wednesday to Sunday, so we didn't need a whole lot of groceries. But, I was able to get several free or really cheap snacks, so we are stocked up for at least a couple of weeks.

Here's what I did at CVS:

Blink Eyedrops - $7.99
2x Right Guard Deodorant - $4.49 each
4x SoBe Lifewater - $1.59 each
     Blink - RP 8/15 - $1
     CVS Right Guard B1G1 - $4.49
     Right Guard - RP 7/25 - B1G1
     CVS SoBe B1G1 - $1.59 x2
     Sobe.com B1G1 - $1.59 x2
     ECBs from last week - $5.00
Total OOP - $1.99
ECBs earned - $7.99

So, for $5 in ECBs and $1.99 cash, I came out of there with $7.99 ECBs, plus 7 products. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure I came out ahead here!! :)


At Kroger I spent $25 and saved $43! The first price is the sale price and then the price in parentheses is what I actually paid. Here's part of what I did using their Buy 8 participating products, Get $4 Off instantly:

Pillsbury Sweet Moments Dessert - $2.49 (Free)
     GM 8/8 - $1
     Cellfire - $1
     B8G4 Off - $.50
2x Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls - $1.69 each ($.19 each)
     2x Online Promotion Coupon - $.50 each doubled to $1.00 each
     B8G4 Off - $.50 each
2x Hot Pockets Side Shots - $1.99 each ($.49 each)
     2x Like Hot Pockets on Facebook - $1.00 each
     B8G4 Off - $.50 each
SoBe Lifewater - $1.00 ($.50)
     B8G4 Off - $.50
Caramel Bugles - $1.49 (Free)
     GM 8/8 - $.50 doubled to $1.00
     B8G4 Off - $.50
Chex Mix - $1.49 (made $.50)
     Smartsource.com - $.50 doubled to $1.00
     Cellfire - $.50
     B8G4 Off - $.50

Here's another 8 item example that I did:

4x Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks - $1.99 each ($1.00 each)
     2x GM 8/8 - $.50 off 2 doubled to $1.00
     B8G4 Off - $.50 each
Betty Crocker Warm Delights - $1.99 (made $.25)
     Smartsource.com - $.50 doubled to $1.00
     Kroger eCoupons - $.75
     B8G4 Off - $.50
Welch's Squeeze Grape Jelly - $1.99 ($1.49)
     B8G4 Off - $.50
Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers - $1.88 each ($1.38 each)
     B8G4 Off - $.50 each

Did YOU get any good deals this week??

Sunday's Deals - 8/15

Wow! Lots of free stuff this week if the stores are well-stocked! Here's a few deals for each store:

Kroger
Pillsbury Sweet Moments Refrigerated Desserts - $2.49
     General Mills 8/8 - $1.00/1
     Cellfire - $1.00/1
     Buy 8 mix & match participating products, Get $4 Off Deal - $.50
Total OOP - FREE

Caramel Bugles - $1.49
     General Mills 8/8 - $.50/1
     Buy 8, Get $4 Off - $.50
Total OOP - FREE

Revlon Emery Boards, 10ct - $.94
     Smartsource 8/15 - $1.00/1
Total OOP - FREE


CVS
Blink Tears Eye Drops - $7.99
     Printable Coupon - $1.50/1 (CVS on University does not always accept printables, not sure about Teasley)
Total OOP - $6.49 (or $7.99 with no coupon)
ECBs Earned - $7.99

2 Right Guard or Dry Idea - Buy 1, Get 1 FREE
     Red Plum 7/25 - B1G1
Total OOP - FREE for both

Glide Pro-Health Floss - $3.49
     Proctor & Gamble 8/1 - $1.00/1
Total OOP - $2.49
ECBs earned - $2.50



Walgreen's
2 Right Guard or Dry Idea - Buy 1, Get 1 FREE
     Red Plum 7/25 - B1G1
Total OOP - FREE for both

1 Stride Gum & 1 Stride Shift Gum
     Smartsource 5/16 - Buy 1 Stride Gum, Get 1 Stride Shift Gum
     Walgreen's Weekly Ad - B1G1 Stride Gum
Total OOP - FREE for both

3 M&Ms - $.49 each (make sure sizes match coupon)
     Red Plum 7/25 - $1 off 3
Total OOP - $.47

Top Ten Reasons to Count Calories

10.  Pen to Paper...All you need is a pen and paper or an iPhone app.

 9.  Technology Rules...Free online databases make it easy to find all kinds of foods,
      even from restaurants.

 8.  KISS...Keeps It Simple, Stupid.

 7.  Results Don't Vary...If you do it consistently you WILL see results.

 6.  100 + 100 = 200...If you're going to count something (i.e., points) you may as well
      count calories. It's less math, just with bigger numbers.

 5.  Self-Control...It helps create a positive form of discipline in your life.

 4.  The Tortoise Wins...It's not a fad diet; it's the correct way to lose weight - slow
      and steady.

 3.  Excessive or Lacking...It helps you realize how much is too much AND how much
      is not enough.

 2.  Eat What You Want...You don't have to deprive yourself of your favorite foods.

 1.  MetaCheck...Blatant advertising coming! It's easy to personalize to YOUR body. All
      you need to do is take our metabolism test. Contact us or look on our home page for
      more information.

So You Wanna Be A Runner?

It is my belief that almost anyone can become a "runner". My goals when I began the transformation to a "runner" a year and a half ago were to lose weight and be able to run in a few races.

Let's take a look at how and why you too should get into running.

1.  Running is a Great Way to Lose Weight
     If you walk a mile you can burn about 70 calories; run a mile and you can burn about 100.
     While these numbers vary depending on your weight and age, it's obvious you'll lose
     faster by running. One reason running burns so many calories is because of the amount
     of large muscles being used. By using these large muscles, you'll burn calories when at
     rest while your muscles recover. Lastly, running gives you more energy to be able to
     accomplish more in all areas of your life.

2.  Anyone Can Run a 5K!
     Why running a 5K is so great:
        - Feeling of accomplishment when you cross the finish
        - Meeting other runners
        - Great way to raise money for a cause
        - You usually get a pretty good t-shirt

     Hints for running your first 5k...
        - Don't run every day. If you try to go every day there's a greater chance of fatigue or
           injury. Start with 20 minutes 3-4 times a week. As your endurance level increases,
           you can up the time and/or mileage.
        - Don't worry about pace or time. Once you've run a few 5K races you can start going
          for a personal record. Until then try to make running straight for 30 minutes your first
          goal. Be happy about any time for your first race. Passing the finish line is the best
          part.
        - Invest in some good shoes. Your feet are the most important parts of your running
          effort. Take care of them. Don't go to a store where you can buy groceries to get your
          first pair of running shoes. It is worth the money to get the only equipment you'll really
          need. I suggest a specialty running store like Fleet Feet or Run-On, where trained
          runners show you what kind of running shoe will fit your feet.

     Example of an 8-week training program for your first 5k:
                  Mon         Tues        Wed        Thurs        Fri            Sat                 Sun
Week 1     Rest      1.5 mi run      Rest     1.5 mi run     Rest      1.5 mi run      20-30 min jog
Week 2     Rest      1.75 mi run    Rest     1.5 mi run     Rest      1.75 mi run    20-30 min jog
Week 3     Rest      2 mi run         Rest     1.5 mi run     Rest      2 mi run         20-30 min jog
Week 4     Rest      2.25 mi run    Rest     1.5 mi run     Rest      2.25 mi run    25-35 min jog
Week 5     Rest      2.5 mi run      Rest     2 mi run        Rest      2.5 mi run      25-35 min jog
Week 6     Rest      2.75 mi run    Rest     2 mi run        Rest      2.75 mi run    35-45 min jog
Week 7     Rest      3 mi run         Rest     2 mi run        Rest      3 mi run         40 min jog
Week 8     Rest      3 mi run         Rest     2 mi run        Rest      Rest               5K Race!

When's your first race??
    

Expensive Week, But Under Budget

Ughh! What a frustrating shopping night! It took me 2-1/2 hours and I did pretty good, but I know I could have done it better and faster and that annoys me. Oh well, at least I stayed under budget.

My first stop was to CVS where they had nothing I was looking for so I drove to the other CVS where I found almost everything. I did my math wrong though and spent $4 instead of $2. Good thing is that I saved $45!!

I went to Wal-Mart next and spent almost $100, but finished off the school supply list (after searching, searching and more searching) and got about a 3-week supply of chips, corn dogs and waffles. I meant to look for a coupon at Wal-Mart to use at Walgreen's, but I was so involved in searching for school supplies that I forgot. So, that got me off to a slow start at Walgreen's. I spent $9.65 and only saved $9.58.

To top the night off, I went to Kroger to get gas and for the first time in a long time I did not get the $.10 off per gallon. At least it was still cheaper than across the street.

Even though I could have done better, I was still successful at CVS, so here's what I did:

Transaction #1
Dulcolax Balance - $9.99
     Dulcolax SS 5/16 - $4
     ECBs from last week - $5
OOP - $.99
ECBs earned - $9.99

Transaction #2
Lysol Hands Free Starter Kit - $9.99
2 - Betty Crocker Warm Delights (B1G1) - $2.29
Softsoap - $.99
2 - Composition Notebooks - $.66 each (only $.20 at Walgreen's, another mistake I made)
2 - Kotex - $2.50 each
     Lysol SS 7/11 - $3 (in my head this was for $5, that's why I spent an extra $2)
     2 - Warm Delights SS 6/27 and GM 8/8 - $.75 each
     Softsoap SS 7/25 - $.35
     Kotex SS 8/8 - $2
     ECBs from Trans #1 - $9.99
OOP - $3.06
ECBs earned - $5

How did you do this week??

Top Ten Disney Planning Tips

We love going to Disney World! Here's our top ten tips when planning your own trip to Disney:

10. It WILL Rain...Especially in the summer months, using a poncho will make you more sweaty than wet. There are always buildings to duck into. We dress accordingly and welcome the cooler temperatures and chance to cool off.

9.  Extra Magic Hours...Take full advantage of the time to be in the park with fewer people. But, also realize that when the park opens to regular guests it will be more crowded. That is why we suggest....

8. Park Hopper Passes...This way you can hit a few rides or attractions in the Morning Extra Magic Hours and then move on to a different park that will be less crowded. It is definitely worth the money to be able to move around; just keep in mind the travel time between parks.

7.  Stay on Disney Property...There are many advantages including Extra Magic Hours, Disney transportation from park to park and Disney transportation to and from the airport. Plus, the MAGIC!

6.  Don't Expect to See Everything...Disney Parks are ginormous!! It would take way more than a week to see and do everything. Don't even try!! It's ok to take breaks in the middle of the day to go swim or hang out at the hotel. Have each family member make a list of their "have-to-do" attractions; do those and try to add in what you can.

5.  FASTPASS...For Disney's most popular attractions you can use their complimentary FASTPASS system. This allows you to reserve a time  to come back to the attraction and not have to wait in a long line. On our last trip to Disney World during Peak Season our longest wait was 45 minutes and that was in an air-conditioned building to see the Fairies. Figure out the FASTPASS system before you go and use it to your advantage.

4.  Dining Reservations...Especially if you want Character Dining experiences, be prepared to make your dining reservations 180 days before you arrive.

3.  Budget...Know your budget before you even make your reservations. Disney World's hotels are set up in different budget categories. Decide on a category and then pick a hotel. You can also find menus with prices to just about every Disney restaurant on allears.net. There should be no "sticker-shock" if you....

2.  Research and Plan...There are lots of resources online or at your local bookstore. Use them!! We plan which parks we are going to every morning and evening. The main thing for us is making sure that we see all of the nighttime entertainment at each park. Even within each park you should have an idea of what order you plan to do the attractions in. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but with a plan you will be able to enjoy more attractions in less time.
 
1.  HAVE FUN!...Leave the attitude and stress at home! You will all be overstimulated and at least one of you will have a meltdown while you are at Disney World. Let it pass and move on to more fun. Don't sweat the small stuff! If you are going with kids, it may not be a relaxing vacation, but it should never be a stressful vacation.
 
HAVE A MAGICAL VACATION!!

Movie Review: "Inception"

One word comes to mind when I think back to the 2-1/2 hours I spent watching Inception. CRAZY!! My "conscience" was tossed and turned for the entire 148 minutes. The whole time I thought of what my dreams would look like if I could put them on the big screen. Evidently it took writer/director Christopher Nolan (Dark Knight) ten years to complete this project pen-to-projector. I can only imagine how many versions of this script probably went through his imagination at any one time.

What Nolan was able to accomplish was the ultimate in cinematic eye-candy. We had some of the best visuals ever seen from start to finish. My absolute favorite was the bending of the city on top of itself. I wanted to hit rewind on my DVR remote. Guess I'll wait a few weeks for the Blu-Ray.

As far as acting goes, it was a distant second for a movie of this magnitude. But, I thought Leonardo DiCaprio was his normal Oscar-worthy self. Everyone else I could have done without. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock from the Sun) and Ellen Page (Juno) were OK, but certainly they could have come up with two that were a better fit. French actress Marion Cotillard was very good as Cobb's (DiCaprio) wife, Mal. I kept wanting her to get out of the way, and was somewhat frightened of her in a "I see dead people..." kind of way.

Overall, I was extremely satisfied with the time I spent watching Inception. After Dark Knight and this follow-up, I am very excited to see what Christopher Nolan can come up with next.

Bring on the Blu-Ray!!! I want extras!

Four Good Stores This Week

I went into this week hoping for the best, but not really expecting much to work. The only store that was out of stuff was Kroger with the $4 off instantly promotion. My first stop was CVS:

Transaction #1
3 20-ct boxes of Toy Story Band Aids - $3.59 each
M&Ms - $.50
     ECBs from last week's photo book - $7.99
     Band Aid 8/1 Smartsource - $3 off 3
Total OOP - $.28
ECBs earned - $5

Transaction #2
Gillette Fusion Power Razor - $9.79
     ECBs from Trans #1 - $5
     Gillette Fusion 8/1 Proctor & Gamble - $4
Total OOP - $.86
ECBs earned - $5

Not only did I get all of that stuff for just $1.14 out of pocket, but I can send in the proofs of purchase from the Band Aids to receive a free Toy Story 3 book! My next stop was Walgreen's. I messed up there by missing a $3 off coupon, but I still think I did great:

Transaction #1
Alive! Multivitamins 50ct - $10
Total OOP - $10
     Register Rewards earned - $10

Transaction #2
Bayer Aspirin AM 50ct (this is the Walgreen's $3 off that I missed)
Dawn Dish Detergent
Visine
2x Highlighter 6pk
Erasers cap 15pk
2x Erasers big pink 2pk
Pointed Scissors
Crayola Crayons 24pk
Wooden Ruler
Plastic School Box
Filler Paper 280shts
2x Spiral Notebook 70shts
2x 2-Pocket Folder with Prongs
     Bayer AM 8/1 RedPlum - $2
     Bayer AM Walgreen's August Book - $3 (the one I missed)
     Dawn 8/1 Proctor & Gamble - $.25
     Visine 6/13 RedPlum - $1
     Visine Walgreen's August Book - $2
     Register Rewards from Transaction #1 - $10
Total OOP - $.75

So, while I got a lot of great stuff, I could have used another $2.25 if I had been paying closer attention. Oh well! My next stop was Kroger where I wanted to do one transaction of the Proctor & Gamble $4 off instantly promotion plus get some free toothpaste.  They were out of most of the P&G items that I was looking for, so I bought the Crest toothpaste that was on sale 10 for $10 and used the $.50 off coupon from 8/1 P&G to get it for free. I also bought some Act II popcorn because our WalMart doesn't carry it.
I had planned to go to WalMart for the rest of our groceries, but then on Wednesday I was going to Albertson's to buy the Frito-Lay 22ct Chips with their coupon for $4.99. Well, WalMart had those chip packs on sale for $5.69 (I've never seen them under $6.29) plus each bag had a coupon for $1 off any loaf of bread. So, it saved me a trip to Albertson's and $.30 on each bag of chips.
Overall, it was a great day of shopping! I only spent $8 more than half of my budget!! I love coupons!! :-)

Top Ten Thursday on Saturday - Sea World Edition

Instead of a top 10 list we are doing two top five lists tonight. We just got back from Sea World today, so we thought we would compile our lists while it is fresh on our minds. This was our first trip there, so let us know if you agree.

Top 5 Things We LIKED at Sea World
5. The Great White - Fun ride that really turns your stomach; we walked off a little bit dizzy. What made it better was that we didn't have to wait in line!
4. Beluga Close-Up Tour - It was a little hot, but we had premium seating for the Azul show, got kissed by a beluga whale and got to see behind-the-scenes behaviors of the belugas and their babies. Plus, we each received a bag, a necklace and a picture of the kiss.
3. The Cannery Row Caper - Funny show and pre-show; the kids loved it. You can also walk behind the show and see the sea lions and otters being fed.
2. Shamu - Shamu Rocks & Believe - Signature shows at the park. It's amazing to see what the killer whales can do.
1. Azul - Best show in the park. It combines belugas, dolphins, swimmers, divers, acrobats, parrots and parakeets into a seamless, action-packed 20 minute show.


Top 5 Things We DISLIKED at Sea World
5. Long, boring lines for short, boring rides - Not to say the rides aren't good, but we are spoiled by Disney's themed lines and rides making for a full experience.
4. If you have a question it's hard to find someone to help you answer it - Again we are spoiled by Disney where you can easily find a cast member ready to answer your questions. It seemed that Sea World had hired quite a few younger workers who were there to get paid, not to make sure you enjoyed your visit.
3. Price of a Kid's Meal - It's silly that a kid's meal with smaller portions was the same price as an adult meal with the only addition being a small drink.
2. Shark Story 4-D in 2-D - Not sure what happened on this one, but this was our first impression of Sea World. We were ready to see sharks coming at us and being splashed with water and what we got was a not-worthy-of-Discovery-Channel documentary about sharks.
1. Gates open at 9:30, but sections of the park don't open until 11 - They say the park opens at 10, but the gates open at 9:30, but you can only go as far as the soft-spoken worker tells you to, but if you want to cut across the grass to get in front of the people who have been waiting the longest there is no one to stop you except for that single soft-spoken worker. Can you tell that annoyed us?? To me it was an embarrassment to Sea World.

Fitness Myths Debunked, Part 1

1. Muscle turns to fat if you don't use it.
    Muscle and fat are two completely different kinds of tissue. In the same way brain tissue is different from heart tissue, muscle cannot turn into fat! When you stop exercising, muscles get smaller and let fat tissue move into their place. Muscle mass increases your metabolic rate. Less muscle means you're going to gain fat if you're eating more and exercising less.

2. Crunches, or any other ab exercise, will get rid of a flabby belly.
    We are all different. We store extra weight differently. The belly is where most of us lose it last. You can do 1,000 sit-ups or crunches every day and you won't burn enough calories to see your "six-pack". Abdominal exercises are only a small part. To get a flat stomach and reveal your abs, you need to cut calories and add exercise that increases heart rate. Don't trust infomercials that say _______ is all you have to do. Diet is the key.

3. Weight lifting causes women to "bulk up".
    This myth makes women frightened to work with weights. Increasing lean muscle mass is essential to a woman's overall fitness. Weight management, bone density and a lean look are just a few benefits of increased muscle. Men have higher testosterone levels, which cause "bulkier" muscles. Women have low testosterone levels and have less muscle to bulk and build up.

4. Exercising on an empty stomach burns more calories.
    This is the same as someone who eats very little to lose weight. To get maximum potential out of your body while working out it must be fueled properly. The risks of not eating enough for exercising are dizziness or light-headedness. To lose weight or have a good workout you must eat properly.

5. If you don't look "fat", then you don't need to exercise.
    The truth is, it's not the fat you can see that can be harmful. It's the fat you can't see. An increased amount of fat around important areas, including vital organs, is very dangerous. Even if someone is perceived as "thin", exercise is essential for heart health. Exercise decreases the chance of heart disease, stroke and diabetes to name a few.

Walgreen's Plan 7/25

Super slow week at Walgreen's coming up. If I decide to head that way these are the things I will pick up:

2-Pocket Folder with Prongs - $.09 - Limit 5
Composition Book - $.69 - Limit 3
Ajax Cleanser - 3/$1 - Limit 6
Command Hooks or Strips - $.50 after coupon
     $1 off - printable
Pilot EasyTouch Pens - FREE after coupon
     $1 off - printable
M&Ms - buy 3 - $.16 each after coupon - Limit 6
     $.49 Walgreen's Ad
     7/25 Red Plum - $1/3

There are a couple of deals that I have already used the coupons for that you may be interested in:

Gillette Fusion Razor - $9.89
     6/6 Proctor & Gamble $4/1
Total OOP - $5.89
Register Rewards earned - $5

Children's Dimetapp - not sure of price
     $2 off Walgreen's Ad coupon
     $2/1 from http://www.dimetapp.com/
Total OOP - If it's not $2 or less then I would wait for a better deal

Happy Shopping!!!

CVS Plan 7/25

I'm not too impressed with the sales at CVS this week, but they do have a couple of things that earn great ECBs. So, this week will be a little different for me; I'm spreading it out. Here's the plan:

Sunday, July 25
U by Kotex - $4.99
     $1/1 found at http://www.ubykotex.com/get_coupons/overview
Total Out-of-Pocket - $4.32
ECBs earned - $4.99

Saturday, July 31 (when we get back from Sea World)
Photo Book - $7.99
     ECBs from 7/25 - $4.99
Total OOP - $3.25
ECBs earned - $7.99

Sunday, August 1
Frito-Lay Multipack Chips - $6.99
Altoids - $1.49
     ECBs from 7/31 - $7.99
Total OOP - $.49
ECBs earned - $1.00

I might buy candy with that $1.00 or I might save it for the next week. I'll have to see how my sweet tooth is doing that day. :)
Basically, for the price of the photo book I will have the book, pads, chips that we eat every week and some candy. I can handle that! Walgreen's is coming up next...

Kroger Plan for 7/25

Apparently there are some good coupons coming out in tomorrow's paper. Yay!! We're going on vacation this week, so I'm not doing major grocery shopping, but there are some deals that I cannot pass up. Here's my plan for tomorrow at Kroger:

Qty/Item                                    Coupon                                 Final Price
2 Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs  -  Coupons.com $1/2       =       $1.49 each
2 Quaker Chewy Granola Bars - 7/25 Red Plum $.75/2     =     $1.12 each
1 Palmolive Liquid Dish Soap  -  7/25 Smartsource $.25    =     $.74
Softsoap Liquid Handsoap    -    7/25 Smartsource $.35    =     FREE
2 Irish Spring Bar Soap      -       7/25 Smartsource $.50/2   =   $.50 each
Colgate Toothpaste        -           7/25 Smartsource $.50     =    $.50
Speedstick Deodorant       -       7/25 Smartsource $.50     =     FREE

Total OOP - $7.46 plus about $.18 in tax

Notice that the highest value coupon is $1/2. That's pretty good for some little coupons!! Stay tuned tonight to see what I work up for CVS and Walgreen's.

Top Ten Sports Movies

This took some serious compromising, but we were able to come up with our top ten favorite sports movies. Here's what we came up with:

10. Victory...this is a soccer movie that Chris had to have on the list.

9. Caddyshack...if you have to include golf, this is the only option.

8. The Sandlot...you're killing me, Smalls.

7. Bull Durham...Costner usually doesn't go wrong with Westerns or baseball.

6. Rudy...for a couple of hours you actually like Notre Dame.

5. Field of Dreams...again, Costner in baseball.

4. Hoosiers...Hackman at his best.

3. Rocky...we can include 1-3, but past that it's just silly.

2. The Natural...besides being a good movie, it has the best soundtrack of all sports movies.

1. Chariots of Fire...nominated for seven Oscars, won four, 'nuff said.

What do you think we left out? Let the debates begin...

Excuses are like...

…armpits. Everyone has them and they stink.

I believe that all of us are able to be in the best shape of our lives. We can do this no matter what age we are. I also believe that what keeps us from reaching these goals is our belief in ourselves. This lack of confidence leads to a lack of discipline, which causes excuses. Let’s go over some of the most common excuses and how we can overcome them.

1. I don’t like exercising….When most people think of exercise, they conjure up visions of hours on a treadmill or lifting heavy weights. The truth is anything that gives you an elevated heart rate for an extended period is beneficial. All you need to be “healthy” is at least 30 minutes of cardio every day and some weight-bearing activity 2 or 3 times a week. If you don’t enjoy the treadmill or gym-type activities try one or some of these: yoga, swimming, basketball, walking, dancing, tennis, skipping rope, bike riding, playing with the kids, etc.. Just move!!

2. I have no time….This is one of my least favorite phrases of all. There is always time to make yourself healthy. Here are some activities that may be in our way: working too much, being on the computer too much, or the one that affects me the most – watching too much TV. If you have time to watch “The Bachelor”, “Dancing With the Stars” or, dare I say it, a football game, then you have the time to get on the floor and do some push-ups, crunches and jumping jacks. The bottom line is that we must make the time. Get up a little earlier, go to bed a few minutes later, or even use some of your lunch hour to get your heart going.

3. I can’t afford a gym membership….First of all you should read some of our couponing posts to see how you can save enough for a membership. Just kidding! This one is similar to the first excuse. You do not need a gym to get a good workout. There are many activities that you can do in or around your home. As listed before, you just need to get your heart elevated. As far as weight-bearing activities go, there are hundreds of exercises that you can do right there in your home. Some of these are push-ups, crunches, squats, lunges, planks, triceps dips on the couch, etc.. If you need some more weight or a challenge you can buy a pull-up bar and a few dumbbells very inexpensively.

4. I don’t like writing calories….OK, you write in your checkbook. You do calculations for cooking. You write lesson plans if you are a teacher. You make reports at most other jobs. Many of these things can take hours. Writing down calories, especially if you do it for a while, can take just a few minutes. Counting calories is the most reliable way to lose weight. If you plan ahead it can be very easy as well. The night before, write down everything you plan on eating the next day; you will be prepared for any snack machine monster that attempts to grab you. Even if you underestimate calories in a lasagna you prepare, it will be better than not counting throughout the entire day. Look on our website, www.fitlif.com, to see some calorie counting websites. These include most restaurants. The bottom line is counting calories is easy, keeps you from overeating and helps you to have a plan.

5. When I start a program I feel overwhelmed and it makes me want to quit….As Americans we want everything to happen quickly and if it doesn’t work we just quit. Drive-thrus, microwaves, instant coffee, and the HOV lane are examples of our impatience. Technology has been great for our lives when it comes to having things quickly. However, when it comes to things like relationships, spirituality, academics, finances, and health and fitness we must take it slow. Immorality, divorce, credit card debt and obesity are all results of a society that wants results instantly. A good health and exercise program needs to start slow and be done over a long period of time. I would equate it to cooking a roast, not a microwave dinner. If you want to start a running program you wouldn’t start by training for a marathon that’s next month. I started by walking a mile, running a mile, walking a mile…. It took me a year to prepare for the half-marathon I ran. Most importantly, whether it is cardio, weights or a healthy eating plan, if you fail at any point keep going. No program is perfect. And no one individual is perfect. You will fail. Get back up and keep going.

Obviously there are many other excuses. Everyone has them and they all stink! No more excuses. Let’s all get up off the couch and start moving!

Back to Couponing

Well, I’ve decided it’s time to get back to couponing. We have 3 vacations planned in the next 11 months (crazy, I know) and it just makes sense to save money wherever we can. I didn’t think I would do too much this week, but it ended up being ok. I saved 16% at Kroger and 93% at Walgreen’s. Kroger wasn’t great, but Walgreen’s was! Last week, Chris’ parents gave me a coupon for $5 off at Walgreen’s so that gave me a great place to start. I didn’t need much from their ad, but with the $5 I was able to make it work. Here’s what I did:

Transaction #1
Gillette Fusion Razor – $9.89
Gillette Fusion Coupon – ($4.00)
Walgreen’s Coupon – ($5.00)
Total Out-of-Pocket (OOP) – $1.38 (Tax was taken on $5.89)
Register Rewards Earned – $5.00

Transaction #2
Colgate MaxFresh Toothpaste – $2.99
Duracell Coppertop AA 4-pack – $4.99
2x 10-pack of Yellow Pencils – $.38
5-pack of Mechanical Pencils – $.19
3x 10-pack of Pens – $.57
Colgate Coupon – $.75
Duracell Coupon – $.75
Walgreen’s Duracell Coupon – $2.00
Register Rewards from Trans #1 – $5.00
Total OOP – $.62Register Rewards Earned – $2.00

So, I paid $2 OOP for about $25 worth of stuff and I will have $2 to start the process over with next week. Works for me!

Did anyone else have a good shopping trip??

Running Too Hot!

Our first comment on our blog had to do with running in the heat. These Summer Texas days can get up into the triple digits. It can be very hard on your body if you are not careful. Here are some hints to deal with the heat:

1. Avoid It!
* If at all possible, run in the morning. It is worth waking up early to run at a “safe” time.

2. Start Slow
* If the afternoon or night are your only options, ease into it. Don’t make your first 5-miler be when it’s 100 degrees. It takes 10 to 14 days for your body to acclimate to the heat.

3. Water Works
* It may seem elementary, but, if you are going to tackle the Texas heat you must stay hydrated. Every pound that you lose on a run means that you sweated away 16 ounces of fluid. If you lose more than 2% of your body weight during your workout, then you are not drinking enough.

Recognize the Hot Spots!

1. Heat Cramps:
Warning Signs – spasms in the abdomen or extremities
Treatment - stop activity and slowly drink sports drink and/or water

2. Heat Exhaustion:
Warning Signs – heavy sweating, paleness, cramps, dizziness, headache and nausea
Treatment – call physician, cool beverages, cool shower

3. Heat Stroke:
Warning Signs – increased heartrate, confusion, anxiety, loss of consciousness, high core temperature
Treatment – immediate medical attention, cool the skin

Just remember, if you’re not training for a race that will be in the hot weather, there’s no need to push it. Run in the morning and stay hydrated!

Happy Running!

Top Ten Ways to Lose Weight

So, we’ve decided that Thursdays should be “Top Ten Thursdays” where we’ll give you our “Top Ten” list of the week. Some will be serious and some just for fun. This week is a serious one because we know it’s hard to lose weight and we’re here to help. We’re almost late, but, here we go…

10. Zzzzzzzzzz’s…Set a regular bedtime and regular waking time. Most experts say 7 to 8 hours for adults.

9. Sugar and spice may not be so nice…Cut back on your sugar and sodium intake. We’re not saying to deny yourself, but make sure that’s not where you get the majority of your calories. (I will always drink real Dr. Pepper!! -Aimee)

8. Mmmm, Beef…Protein is helpful in building lean muscle mass. Some good options would be nuts, lean red meat, beans, tuna and salmon.

7. Water Works…It may be the name of the water park here in Denton, but it’s so true. It helps with hydration, digestion, suppresses appetite and speeds up your metabolism.

6. Numbers don’t lie…Don’t be obsessed with the scale, but you should keep a point of reference whether it’s daily, weekly or even monthly. How you feel and the way your clothes fit are important, but seeing the numbers on the scale will keep it real.

5. Keep the fire burning…Your metabolism is like a campfire. When you leave it untouched overnight it starts to die out, so first thing in the morning you have to stoke the fire with breakfast. Then throughout the day you have to keep it going. Make your metabolism work for you by eating small snacks or meals all day.

4. Run for your life…It doesn’t have to be running, but do something that you enjoy that gets you moving everyday.

3. Pump it up…This includes you, ladies! Push yourself to lift heavier weight as long as you do it safely. You’d be surprised at how much you can lift if you just try. Lean muscle mass will actually make you thinner and not bulkier.

2. Plan for success…Menu planning, writing down calories, scheduling workouts, all are important to your weight loss. There is no quick fix, so get prepared for the long haul. If you fall off the wagon, jump back on NOW and don’t wait until “next Monday”.

1. Calories In vs. Calories Out…It’s all about basic math. There are many fad diets out there, but knowing how many calories your body burns is all you need to know.

Tell us your thoughts…

$35 Under Budget!

Woohoo!! You saw the title, so you know why I’m happy. Grocery shopping is a lot more fun when you don’t spend very much! Just so you know, I consider it a “grocery” if it can be bought at Walmart. We include all kinds of things in our “Grocery” budget. I went to Walmart, Kroger and Walgreen’s this week. Walmart was for the majority of the groceries, printer ink, a few school supplies (we’re starting early), and a musical birthday card. I got 3 boxes of Crystal Light PureFitness Drink Mixes for free! My really big successes were at Walgreen’s and Kroger, though. Here’s what I did at Walgreen’s:

Transaction #1
2 6-packs of Slim-Fast drinks – 2/$10
Register Rewards from last week – $2
Printable Slim-Fast coupon – $1
Total OOP – $7.00
Register Rewards Earned – $2.00

Transaction #2
2 Oscar Mayer Deli Lunchmeats – 2/$5
Mini Oreos Big Bag – $.50
Mini Nutter Butters Big Bag – $.50
Folder with Brads – $.13
80-pack of Envelopes – $.69
Oscar Mayer Lunchmeat Coupon – $1.00
Nabisco Coupon – $1.00
Register Rewards from Trans #1 – $2.00
Total OOP – $2.82

Just the Slim-Fast alone at any other store would have cost more than I paid for all of that stuff!!

Here’s what I did at Kroger:

Schick Hyrdo5 Razor – $7.19
2 Loaves of Mrs. Baird’s Bread – $2.00
2 Bags of Fast Fixin’ Chicken Nuggets – $2.00
Act II Popcorn 6-pack – $3.79
2 Mini Ben & Jerry’s Ice Creams – $2.00
Blue Bell Pint – $1.99
Coupon from last week’s trip for buying Dole oranges – $.75
Schick Razor loaded on card – $4.00
Schick Razor from paper – $5.00
Ben & Jerry’s from mail + double – $1.00
Ben & Jerry’s from mail + double – $1.00
Fast Fixin’ Chicken Printable – $1.00
Fast Fixin’ Chicken Printable – $1.00
Total OOP – $5.07

My receipt at Kroger told me I saved 80%!! The popcorn and ice cream were impulse buys, but if I had not gotten them the store would have owed me money! I don’t think that’s allowed! Haha!!

Leave a comment and tell me how you did this week!!