Cook Yourself Thin

So I enjoy cooking and trying new things, and I LOVE cookbooks and learning new tips on ways to get and stay healthier. I'm still struggling to be as healthy as I should be......it's a constant struggle everyday. But I am also determined that I'm going to get there........eventually! :)

About a week or so ago, I happened to catch a commercial for a new cooking show that was starting..........and it REALLY piqued my interest! I quickly stopped what I was doing, picked up my remote control, and programmed my DVR to start recording it the very first day it aired. I'm SO GLAD I did! I'm now LOVING the show and all the new tips that I'm learning!

The show is called "Cook Yourself Thin".............as indicated in the above picture. These 3 cute ladies pictured above are the 'cooking experts' giving all the advice and tips on how to eat healthier and cut your calories way, WAY down while still enjoying your favorite foods. The show just aired for the first time on Monday..........and it comes on every afternoon on the Lifetime Channel (I know, the 'psycho channel' as my husband fondly calls it! LOL) at 3:00 and 3:30 p.m., Mountain Time. Usually, I'm busy working during that time so I've got my wonderful DVR recording it for me so that I can watch the episodes later when I have a little time to do so. (What did I ever do before DVR?!)

So far....in just 2 days.....I have already learned quite a bit and have been AMAZED at the little changes you can make to some of your favorite fattening foods to make them so much less fattening.......but still taste so great! It's unreal! I've actually been printing the recipes off the website online at http://www.mylifetime.com/ and I'm currently in the process of creating my own, personal, healthy cookbook full of the recipes off the show and anywhere else I can find them. I'm so excited!! My husband lovingly calls me a 'geek'.........but hey! He appreciates that I cook for him, so he can't complain too much! And so far, interestingly enough, he's actually been enjoying some of the new recipes I've been trying in spite of being a little bit weary of them at first. Yay!!

I would highly recommend that everyone check out this new show.....it's quickly becoming one of my favorites! Let's be healthy and feel better about ourselves together.................

Here are 2 of the recipes that were aired so far:

This first one was aired yesterday.

http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/cook-yourself-thin/recipes/penne-alla-not-ka

This 2nd one was aired on Monday.

http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/cook-yourself-thin/recipes/ultimate-sausage-cheese-pizza

Biggest Loser - Results

So I am a big Biggest Loser fan! I enjoy watching the show every week! These 2 guys, Cousins Sione and Filipe, are absolutely my favorites this season!

That being said, I was not very happy with the results of tonight's show! I am so sad that Sione get voted off!! I actually got choked up while watching! Now I'll be routing for Filipe.................

And can I just say............

RON'S GOT TO GO HOME!! I'm SO done with him!! He's a backstabber and a manipulator.............and needs to go home! He should have been gone a long time ago! 'Nuff said.............

Eating For Life

OK..........I'm pretty proud of myself. Ever since my last post, I've been thinking and researching (somewhat) about getting healthier. I've started trying to make this change many times in the past, but have never REALLY and truly followed up on it and I've always given up way too easily....mostly because of my own stupid reservations and excuses. I'm determined that this time will be different!

SO........The reason I'm proud of myself..................

I went grocery shopping today and I didn't buy anything fattening!! No junk food!

I HATE going grocery shopping without being properly prepared, which requires a little bit of work before I actually go. I always make up a "menu" of sorts for the next 2 weeks (since I go shopping every pay period).............and then I make up my shopping list from that menu. This way I can be sure that I will have all the necessary ingredients and I don't end up running to the store 50 times to get things, which then results in spending a lot more money!

I am a big fan of Biggest Loser...........but I've also always really like the ideas of Bill Phillips as well. I firmly believe that your body needs a little of everything............in moderation. I don't believe it's healthy to 'cut' certain things out of your diet, so I'm pretty picky about what kind of 'diet' I will actually do. I want one that's really, actually going to be healthy for my body in the long run. Anyway, I have both of Bill Phillips books Body for Life and Eating for Life. In Body for Life, he basically talks/teaches about changing your mind frame to a healthier one and making the necessary changes to becoming a happier, healthier you. (Which is why I also really like Jillian Michaels books as well. She does the same thing.) In the book Eating for Life, it's full of healthy recipes to make..........and they're pretty good! I've tried 1 or 2 of them out in the past and have liked them. However, today my entire menu came from that book! Hopefully, they'll be yummy...............and that Matt will like them, too! LOL We'll see what happens.

This is the first step. I also have Jillian Michaels books as well from The Biggest Loser. Between all of them, I should be able well on my way to learning how to make the necessary changes for healthier eating habits.

I also weighed myself this week ask well (UGH!). I know exactly how much I need to lose to be a healthy weight for my height and body type. The next step is to get back to exercising regularly again....................

Biggest Loser

OK..........I have been thinking about something for quite some time now, and I have come to the conclusion that I need to finally, actually DO something about it. I've also been debating whether or not to even post this for everyone to see. It's kind of personal, but I've decided to go ahead and do so in hopes that this will help kick my butt in gear. Here's the deal.........

For the most part, I like who I am as a person and I'm pretty proud of all of the things that I've accomplished in my life. There's always room for improvement, obviously, but I think that for the most part I'm doing pretty well. I don't mean for this post to be seem like I'm 'putting myself down' or anything. That's not my intent at all. But I do have to be perfectly honest in saying that................I HATE to look at myself in the mirror and I HATE pictures of me! Who doesn't, right? :)

My whole life I have had a constant battle with my weight. When Matt and I met and started dating, though, I was working in Pediatric Ophthalmology up at the University of Utah/Primary Children's Hospital. I LOVED my job for a number of reasons! One of which is that I was more active and running around the clinic all day long, for long hours. I had lost quite a bit of weight and was feeling better, both physically and mentally, than I ever had! When I quit that job and moved on..........I found myself at a job that required that I sit at a desk all day, every day.........and the weight has all come back, plus some. I HATE it!

I don't like the way I look and feel these days.................I know that there is so much that I could change and improve upon to make myself so much healthier! So here's my plan: For the new year, I want to make those changes to help make me a healthier, happier person. However, I don't necessarily want to wait until the new year. I want to start now, today. I want to get the confidence in myself back that I seem to have lost somewhere along the way, which I know will also help my relationship to be even stronger with Matt. He's such an incredible person and truly loves me for who I am! He thinks I'm beautiful just the way I am, and I love him so much for it! He's the greatest!

Matt and I have had some trouble getting our family started in the past, but there isn't a doubt in my mind that we WILL have children someday when the time is right! In the meantime, I feel that it's important that he and I start now to be healthier so that we can pass that along to our children as well. I want both of us to be able to run and play with our children someday, and to be healthy and strong for them. Both Matt and I have some very unhealthy traits and genetic diseases in our family medical histories, which we are very prone to getting some day. If possible, I hope that we can be healthier and avoid those things so that we can live long, happy, active lives with our children and families.

Matt and I have been watching Biggest Loser:Families this season for the first time, and it has been very inspiring! Watching the transformation that has taken place in these people's lives, not just physically, but mentally as well has been incredible!

My goal is to lose weight in a healthy manner by being more active, watching what I eat better, and cutting down on my portions. I have several good friends who have been great examples to me of becoming healthier and looking GREAT!! I'm looking for suggestions from others of things that have helped them in the past and present to be healthier, such as exercise regimens, healthy recipes, etc. I'm open to all suggestions! So please comment away and help me out!!