Merry Christmas!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas Eve and Christmas are a great morning! Today is my favorite day of the year, but it can be easy to slip into a vacation of some bad habits from outside the weather is (mostly) warm and cold … I encourage you to start a new holiday tradition currently active. My family gets together and play a football game every Thanksgiving and a dodge ball game for Christmas. These activities are a great way for everyone together for many laughs and as a bonus helps to burn some holiday snacks ever!
Here are a few "Merry Christmas Move Your Body" are ideas:

* Play a game of Twister family the best holiday pajamas

* Take your dog for a walk around the neighborhood Christmas and pictures of the best home decor

* For a local ice rink for the afternoon walk

* If you live in an area where it snows to build to build a snowman or snow fort competition with the children or siblings

* Make a Christmas game (similar to an Easter egg hunt), but with a little gift boxes throughout the home or garden with non-food items such as socks, holiday, miniature ornaments, etc. trove of

* Creating a Dance Dance Revolution game of his own party and dance music-offs with family members

* Play a family and friends play snow football, beach volleyball, indoor dodge ball, soccer in the street (depending on the weather where you live)

* Take it to the slopes of a day of skiing, snowboarding or sledding

Enjoy your day and let me know if you and your family for a fun activity to share assets Christmas to you!
Jessica, nutritionist

For those of you spending the evening in, be sure to tune into tonight’s episode of “The Biggest Loser”. Here’s why…


On tonight’s special Valentine’s Day episode, one player from each team goes home making use of their trainer, one other contestants compete for letters from home, and viewers have a possiblity to win an all-expense paid trip for 2 (2) to The Largest Loser Resort.  Yes, that’s right, tune in and you and your someone, or BFF, can win a free of charge visit to BLR! 


Tonight, viewers get yourself a possiblity to win amazing “Biggest Loser” prizes in a very sweepstakes celebrating the United States Postal Service’s new Heart Health Forever stamp.  Host Alison Sweeney surprises contestants with the news that for Valentine’s week, trainers Bob and Dolvett get to select one person on each with their teams to go home, as well as the two people sent home is gonna be the only ones whose weight counts at this week’s weigh-in. But the greater surprise is the very fact that Bob and Dolvett will probably be going hom with them, leaving the contestants with the ranch to visit it alone without their trainers. 


Meanwhile, back on the ranch, the red and black teams compete in a grueling beach challenge along with the team that finishes first receives letters at home featuring the USPS new Heart Healthy Forever stamp (pictured below).

Who knew vegetables could possibly be so cool?  Shout over to musician Parry Gripp for placing fun musical twist into vegetables and contributing to their “awesomeness”! 


Gripp developed a fun catchy video paying homage to many of our own favorite, nutritious and heart healthy vegetables.  Parents, you might wish to share this using your kids. 


http://bit.ly/AnOF5C


Comment and share this link if you too “Like Vegetables!” 


Cheers to health in life, 


Amanda 

Two posts in one day?! That’s right! We have MORE exciting news to announce from The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge…please help us in welcoming two new celebrity trainers whom you know and love…

We all love fries, don’t we?!  Some of us even crave them.  They’re so tasty and can really satisfy a salty craving.  The question is, “How can I eat something I really like but ensure it is healthier?”  

PrepTime: 5 minutes

CookTime: 30 minutes

TotalTime: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

·        2 large sweet potatoes

·        1 tbsp of olive oil

·         Course salt & pepper (to taste) 

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Cut thesweet potatoes into 1/2 inch strips or wedges and toss in the oil and salt & pepper.  Arrange in a single layer on a nonstick baking sheet (uncovered).  Place in oven for 30minutes, turning once.  Enjoy! 

Before

After

Another great thing about making homemade sweet potato fries is that you simply will make them anyway you like: spicy (add cayenne pepper or red chili flakes), sweet (add cinnamon and Stevia),or savory (add curry powder, rosemary or garlic).  Any way you do it, these “fries”—baked inside oven with abit of heart-healthy olive oil—are lower in fat than deep-fried, possess a lowerglycemic index than white potatoes, and they come filled with antioxidants.  ***But remember, despite the actual fact that extra virgin olive oil is heart healthy, it really is also high in calories so don’t overdue it.

If you’re much like me and you enjoy dipping your food, you can accompany your homemade sweet potato fries having a homemade dipping sauce.  Start with a 1/4 Cup of fat free Greek yogurt (a good way to obtain protein) and add…

For a spicy dipping sauce try adding 1/4 cup of chipotle salsa or hot sauce.  

For a sweet dipping sauce try adding a squeeze of honey or Stevia and cinnamon. 

For a savory dipping sauce try adding your preferred curry sauce or BBQ sauce. 

So yum!  Now the actual question is, “Who’s making homemade Sweet Potato Fries today?!” 

Cheers to health in life, 

Amanda   


PS: Should you be hosting Superbowl Sunday this weekend these sweet potato fries are a great addition in your healthy snack line-up! 

Hi fellow foodies! Here are some of my best solutions for high volume, low in calories, the best food for your money. So, enjoy a big bowl of some of the following during the Super Bowl, almost without remorse!

Tofu Shirataki / Slim pasta noodles
Dress squash
Any plant, ie: snow peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, peppers
Cookies akmak
Roasted seaweed Bags
Nonfat Fudgecicles
Fo-made mashed cauliflower Tatoes
Proteins stick
Fruit salad with unsweetened cocoa powder
Homemade minestrone soup or boxed soups low in sodium
Mussels, shrimps, crabs, clams
Corn tortillas
Orowheat / or Fillems Arnold Sandwich Thins
Air Popcorn
Condiments high flavor with few calories:
Pico de gallo, hot sauce, balsamic vinegar, mustard, tzatziki, herbs and spices, garlic, onion, horseradish, extracts (vanilla, almond, mint)
Easy volume trick
Cut food into smaller pieces and once again the volume – which romaine salad leaves a few in a bowl of shredded lettuce. That seems more satisfying?
* Another tip *
Do you know that in this case, "more for your money" volume group who eat like me – no bars or shakes to complete meals! You must be physically and mentally satisfied with the food. A smoothie does not meet the same way mentally and a big bowl of fruit and yogurt, leaving you unsatisfied and susceptible to food right after again, even if the batter who had consumed only 600 calories to eat!

Jessica Hummel, nutritionist

Everyone has heard of The New York Times, right? I mean, I don’t even read the paper with all the new technology, but even I know that The New York Times is a big deal and to be featured in such a publishing is an incredible compliment!

We had the opportunity to host New York Time’s Jennifer Conlin as she experienced the Biggest Loser Resort’s program for herself. She did not hold back as she wrote about her time at Fitness Ridge, which was published in the travel section on January 1st of this year. This is a must read!

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/travel/taking-it-off-just-like-tv.html

Enjoy!

XOXO

SARAH

Many of us do it, make New Years resolutions.  Some years we are successful at achieving our set goals, and other times we fall short.  Today, Biggest Loser Resort Malibu nutritionist Jessica Hummel offers her insight into how to set resolutions and goals that you can, and WILL, achieve in the New Year.

Remember, as long as you try and make a valiant effort, failure cannot be a part of you.  For to truly fail is to never even try.

Happy New Year my friends.  Let’s make 2012 our best ‘Year of YOU’ yet!

Cheers to health and life,

Amanda

We do it all the time.  Sometimes more than once a day.  Eating out.  Dinning at restaurants outside of the house.  Sometimes for the pure convenience of not having to grocery shop, cook and clean at home.  Other times it’s for the social aspect.  It’s such a common occurrence; eating out to meet with friends,  catching up over a meal, or possibly even meeting someone for the first time.  Eating out is convenient, easy and can be really fun.  But depending on where you go and what you order, eating out can wreak havoc on your waistline.


In an effort to curb that from happening, here are 10 tips to always consider when dinning out.  

1. Don’t arrive to a restaurant starving!  You’re much more likely to eat too quickly and overeat. 
2. Drink water!  Water helps feel you up so you don’t overeat on fillers such as bread or chips and salsa.  Add lemon, orange, lime or cucumbers to your water for added flavor. 
3. Look up nutrition and calorie information prior to your arrival.  Be knowledgable!  These days majority of restaurants offer lower calorie meal options.  Utilize your smart phone for this if you’re on the go.  I’m sure there’s an app for that! 
4. Watch your sodium intake for the remainder of the day.  Remember sodium makes us retain water which in turn make us feel bloated, and that’s never a good feeling. 
5. Take time to read the menu.  Be sure you read what the meal entails and if you don’t know what an ingredient is, don’t be afraid to ask your server.  They’re there to help you! 
6. Order lean protein options ‘dry-fried’ meaning cooked with no oil or butter.  Believe us, the flavor will still be there! 
7. Get creative – don’t be afraid to order an appetizer for dinner or an entre from the kids menu.  These portion sizes are better and just as satisfying. 
8. Order your food selections ‘undressed’ meaning without the creams, sauces, dressings, etc.  Then you can add low calorie condiments like salsa, mustard or balsamic vinegar. 
9. Socialize!  No need to rush through your meal.  Take your time while eating and chew each bite thoroughly.  You will enjoy your meal and a whole lot more.  Also, save on calories by getting extra friendly and sharing your meal. 
10. Substitute.  Swap our for mixed greens, tomato slices, extra veggies, fruit salad in place of fries, coleslaw or mashed potatoes. 

Eating out is inevitable.  It’s going to happen.  So be sure to implement these tips into your healthy eating habits every time you dine out. 


Cheers to health!  Until next time, 


Amanda 

It’s December 27th.  Christmas has past, Chanukah is nearing an end and our holiday gift lists will soon be ‘so last year’.  What do we have our sights on next?  For most of us it’s time to focus on our next list.  Not the typical “To-Do” list, but rather our ‘Let’s make 2012 the best year EVER’, New Years resolutions list.