[babydawn]

Salads.... In my salads I love TONS of stuff.... avacados, cucumbers, egg, green onion, radishes, tomato, cheese, bacon pieces, etc....

You have some very helpful suggestions. Thanks.

[shannon_heslop]

Hi ladies! It's obviously been a while since I checked in -- it was great to read all your posts. And I loved the ideas! I love the soup idea for that very reason. My kids haven't really been into soups, but I just kept doing it and now they are starting to like them. I like it cause you can go light on the meat, heavy on the veggies, and get good flavor! I'm going to have to work on the salads. I definitely like my dressing. I also love lots of stuff on it, but my husband is quite happy with just lettuce. BORING! It's the way he grew up. So I add it to mine. Keep the ideas coming. I need them.
I've been doing really good on the exercise! Yea! I got a double jogger stroller that was awesome this summer (used) and it was stolen within 2 weeks. I was so bummed!!!! I did finally find another one that works, it's just a lot harder to push than the first one. But I'm out walking at least 5 days a week for at least 40 minutes or more. Yea! It's taken me a while to get going.
I understand the pregnancy problems. I was on bedrest with my last one and it's so hard, especially if you have other kids. It's worth it though. Pregnancy helped me lose weight too for many of the same reasons, and nursing too. But as soon as I stopped, ugh! So I'm not losing any weight yet, but I'm feeling better. Next is working on my diet more. It's nice to have a place to come where we are all on the same page, trying to be more healthy instead of just losing weight. I'm hoping the weight loss will come too.

[aserovey]

My goal for this coming week is to eat one piece of fresh fruit every day. I have a fussy 7 month old and it is hard to actually think about what I am eating throughout the day. I tend to just scarf something quick and easy (usually PB&J) when I get a momments rest. I am working on a menu plan for my family. I have yet to be able to actually stick to the menu I make. It is hard to come up with good meals that are inexpensive and fast. My hubby and I are just starting out so money is tight. I am glad that I was able to find this site where they have all these good ideas about saving money, but I am still struggling with what to make that will be healthy, inexpensive, fast to make, and actually taste good. Anyone have a favorite recipe they would like to share?

My tip of the week comes from what I learned in my nutrition class at BYUIdaho.
1) Drink plenty of fluids. Especially water, and especially if your nursing. Your body can be dehydrated and you not even know it. You should releasing stool at least once a day- if not your body is probably not getting enough fluids. Just plain water is not enough to rehydrate you- mix some Gatorade into your water to replenish the nutrients lost.
Not that this applies to us but I thought interesting: those who drink coffee or smoke need more water than the typical person.

[babydawn]

Yes, well, I have kind of been a slacker lately. But starting today, I am going to get back on it. My goal for this week is going to be walking/jogging 3 or plus times this week and to drink a glass of water before I eat anything, that way, perhaps I will eat less (and I love to eat!). How are the rest of you doing on your goals?

[shannon_heslop]

Thanks for the tip on water. Babydawn, that's a great idea about having a glass of water before you eat anything. I know I've heard it before, but that doesn't mean I remember it! I've been out for my morning walk. Yea!
I understand about being tight on money! I'm a major sale shopper. I watch the ads and buy more when the prices are REALLY good. It's amazing to me what is "on sale" can still be a lousy deal. You can save a lot of money doing that. I don't know where you are at, but if there is a Winco around, that's a great place to shop. There's also a Grocery Outlet here that sometimes has really great deals. And the 99 cent Store here has food and I sometimes find really good stuff for cheap. You really have to look - things aren't always a deal or good quality. I started shopping this way because I needed to. Now, I wouldn't do it any other way. Even if we have extra money, I wouldn't want to waste it. There's always something else we need to spend it on.
Sakamaki chicken is an easy, good recipe. I got it on my mission and my family all like it. I like it too because it's fast. And we just eat smaller portions of chicken.
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce, 1 8 oz. can soy sauce, 1 8 oz. can sugar, 1/2 can water, 2 T. vinegar, 1 t. prepared mustard, garlic powder. Use the can to measure and mix all ingredients in the pan. Add raw chicken and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until done. (Sometimes I'll thicken it with corn starch at the end). Serve with rice.
I also like to make muffins like pumpkin or bran and substitute mostly applesauce for the oil and do 1/3 of the flour as whole wheat flour. I feel like my family is getting a little more nutrition and they really like it!

[aserovey]

So this past week I kept my goal of fruit every day. I found it easier to just drink some fruit juice or throw some fruit in with my cereal in the morning. I started to read the labels on some of what I thought was juice and turns out if it says "cocktail" it's usually only about 30% actual fruit and the rest is basically sugar water. I found that I like the Juicy Juice's they have a large selection to choose from. My husband who grew up drinking soda has started to drink juice with me. We have at least 2 servings of fruit a day. But we limit it to 3 max because too much fruit will actually defeat weight loss. Fruit is a natural form of sugar.
I have been reading an article entitled "Wisdom and Great Treasures of Knowledge" It is by Lance B. Wickman during BYU Educational week. Here is the link:
http://speeches.byu.edu/htmlfiles/Wi...e_08_2004.html
It is an amazing article which goes into much more depth about the word of wisdom and it's relation to the gospel than anything I have ever read. It's not merely about "guidelines" of the WoW. It's more about gaining a true testimony of the WoW. I am not sure of the exact quote, But Joesph Smith once said that "the study of doctrine and principles changes behavior more than the study of behavior changes behavior." I take this to mean that if we study the WoW and gain a personal testimony of it, then it will be much easier to change and to be who the Father would have us be. That is my new goal for this upcoming week. To gain a testimony of the WoW.

For those of you who grew up in the gospel maybe you can relate. I feel as though from the time I was in Primary I have known things to be true from what was taught to me and never really questioned for myself if they are true. As I have grown older I have learned how valuable it is to gain testimony. To "test" my faith and prove the lessons that were taught to me.

[shannon_heslop]

You are exactly right about needing to read the labels on juice. My husband pointed that out to me a while ago, so I'm always careful now. The cocktails are usually cheaper, but not as good for you. Do be careful about too much juice though -- it doesn't have the same nutritional value as fruit and they've been doing studies, finding that there is a link between drinking a lot of juice and obesity in kids. I know my kids will drink as much juice as I will let them, so I try to limit it to once a day. They don't get enough milk if they drink more. I do like juice myself, but I try not to over do it too. I'm better about fruit than veggies. My kids LOVE apples and bananas. Seems like we go through that like crazy. And they really like carrots. I've been surprised too at how much they all like cauliflower and broccoli. As long as I add cheese. And then there's always the peas and corn (frozen) which they all like.
Thanks for the link to that talk -- I'm going to read it today. It sounds wonderful. I've been doing great on my exercise! But I'm certainly not losing any weight yet. In fact, when I went to the doctor the other day, I'd gained 2-3 pounds since the last time I checked my weight (it's been a while). UGH! I'm eating about the same or better, so I'm frustrated. I've been SO tired lately. I'm checking on my thyroid again to see if that might be an issue. It has been in the past.

[newbiemum05]

Fabulous idea
My family and I are trying to go as organic as we can but as themeat is so much more expensive we are eating less of it - we got an organic cookbook from the library and tried some veggie recipes - we didn't even miss the meat and both my hubby and son loved it.
I will be having a good study of the WoW this week and putting that into our family plan.
My VT companion (who is now a great friend and just had a baby a few months ago) has said she'd love to go the local gym with me - they have a creche available too. It helps to have someone else there as amotivator too then you can keep each other going.
Thanks for all the suggestions - esp the water thing - will give it a go !

[scottiegazelle]

Alright, where did everyone go? C'mon, come back!
I hate veggies, I have serious veggie issues. Right now, I'm good with salad only if I can dump my dressing on it. I've been doing pretty good with the fruit; I'm on a sweet tangerine kick lately, so whenever I want chocolate, I've been trying to grab the tangerine. I've also been working on my water intake; I keep a water bottle in the fridge and sip it whenever I want something sweet. I managed to kick a soda habit (bad hangover from pre-church days). Being pregnant also makes me a better eater, and I'm due in April. I basically HAVE to drink the water, otherwise I start having early contractions. With my 2nd child, I went into labor, they verified the contractions were real and not Braxton Hicks, they admitted me and stuck in the IV, and the contractions stopped...and I carried my son another three weeks. So now I make sure I drink a ton of water, although if I miss a day, I do have a few problems.

My tip on exercise - if you have little kids, walk around the playground. Right now, we are about 200 feet from a playground, so I've been taking the kids over and walking around, listening to my MP3 player while the kids play.

So, my goal this week: up my water bottle count to three bottles a day. I'm at about two right now (we just moved up North and I can't STAND the taste of the tap water), 16 ozs, so three should get me closer to my ultimate goal of four.

[newbiemum05]

goal this week is to go for a 2 litre bottle a day of water (filled from tap), enough veg to be double the ammount of whatever else I have on my plate, breakfast everyday.
also will get out for a walk with ds (weather permitting - its been freezing ad raining everyday.