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!!

Don't Bring It Home

I would not call Aimee and I financial experts. We are learning more and more everyday. Three of our main sources for learning are the Bible, Dave Ramsey and older adults who have “been there, done that”. In finances, just like healthy eating and exercise, it doesn’t matter how much you learn if you don’t put it into practice.

One of the main things we have been very good at is saving for big purchases, specifically trips. In the last year we saved for a week-long Disney World trip and will save for two more Disney World trips and a Sea World trip over the next 11 months. We wouldn’t suggest doing that much, especially while trying to sell a house, but we have a 10-year anniversary mixed in there.

The number one thing we did before any big purchases was getting out of credit card debt. That first Disney World trip would not have happened if we had any money on credit cards. Imagine if we had added a trip on top of other debts; I’m sure we would still be paying for it today if that were the case.
This brings me to the second thing we have learned, patience. A trip is not worth taking if it is not paid for in full before we leave. That Disney trip we went on was even better knowing that we paid cash for the entire thing. I don’t want to imagine the way we would have felt riding Splash Mountain and thinking about the debt waiting for us at home. It allowed us to truly enjoy our time there without the stress of how much money we were spending.

The last thing I’d like to share is plan, plan, plan! Don’t try to take a big expensive trip for next week or even next month. A trip to Europe, Hawaii, or even Disney World needs to be at least 6 months to a year of planning and saving, maybe even longer. Aimee and I have already discussed not doing another big trip after June 2011 until summer of 2012 or 2013. This would give us ample time to save and be able to do the other things we want to do financially. We will still take small weekend trips in the meantime to hotels or local resorts just so our family can get away, but they will not be a financial burden.

Whatever you and your family like to do for vacation, don’t mortgage your future or your kids’ future to have a little fun. Do it the right way. Do it in a way that you can breathe a sigh of relief when you get home.

As always, give us your thoughts!!

Top Ten Things to do at Disney World

It’s Top Ten Thursday! Today is a special Top Ten – we’ve included our kids in this one. I have a feeling that our list may change once we go in December with all the Christmas festivities. But, for now we have only been during the summer months. The kids’ lists are in no particular order. Here they are:

Chris & Aimee’s Favorite Things to do at Disney World
10. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
9. Turtle Talk with Crush
8. Festival of the Lion King
7. Mickey’s PhilharMagic
6. World of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace
5. Cookie Bottom Sundae from Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
4. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
3. Fantasmic!
2. “SpectroMagic” Parade
1. Walking into Magic Kingdom to see Cinderella Castle for the first time

Natalie’s Favorite Things to do at Disney World
1. Splash Mountain
2. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
3. Kilimanjaro Safaris
4. Meeting Tinkerbell
5. Breakfast in Cinderella Castle
6. T-Rex Cafe – making a dinosaur
7. Soarin’
8. High School Musical 3: Senior Year – Right Here! Right Now!
9. Turtle Talk with Crush
10. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Austin’s Favorite Things to do at Disney World
1. The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm
2. Snow White’s Scary Adventures
3. Kilimanjaro Safaris
4. Animal Kingdom Lodge
5. The Boneyard
6. “it’s a small world”
7. “SpectroMagic” Parade
8. Turtle Talk with Crush
9. Walt Disney World Railroad
10. Pirates of the Caribbean

What are your favorites??

Grocery Shopping CAN be Fun!

WOW! I only spent half of our budget this week!! It’s only my third week back into couponing and it’s already making a huge difference. I couldn’t find much to do at CVS or Walgreen’s this week, but Kroger was having a Mega Event. All you have to do is mix and match 10 items that are specially marked and you automatically get $5 off! All it takes is planning and counting. At Wal-Mart I bought 2 bacon-wrapped filet mignon steaks for $.98. Here’s the link to a coupon for $3 off: http://chefsrequested.com/coupons-.aspx. Apparently at some Wal-Marts the price is as low as $3.28 making them only $.28!

I’m not the only one having grocery shopping success. One of my friends spent $60.08 at Kroger and saved $78.39!! WOW! That included 4 deodorants, 2 toothpastes, 2 toothbrushes and lots of snacks. She also went to CVS and spent $10.19 on stomach meds that are usually $9.99, 2 packs of facial cleansing cloths, 3 packs of gum, 3 packs of pens and dry erase markers. She did two transactions there and saved $31.55. Here’s a quote from her, “Between two stores I saved over $100 and all stuff that we will use!! Not bad for about an hour and a half of planning!”.

How did you do this week??