Lifestyle, Minute Movement Philosophies, Nutrition, Quality of Life
As the year winds down my thoughts always turn to the the improvements I want to make in my life. I’ve found that grand resolutions at the beginning of the year don’t typically work well for me because I end up feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of ‘never again’ and sabotage my own plans. You know what works best for me? I set smaller goals for myself (throughout the year) instead of making huge, sweeping resolutions.
For example, I really want to improve my nutrition but I haven’t found a magic diet that works for longer than a few weeks – tops. The extreme deprivation, the innumerable salads stretching into my future, the stress of never having chocolate again. It doesn’t take very long for it to destroy my good intentions. Instead, I like to break down the larger goal – of ‘good nutrition’ – into more manageable steps like drinking 64 ounces of water daily or eating 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. I track my progress and celebrate my successes (but NOT with food – usually). And before I know it I REALLY AM eating better – without feeling deprived!
So maybe you’re a fan of the grand resolution at the beginning of the year -lots of people are. But if you feel like that’s not been working well for you why don’t you try setting small, manageable goals instead?
Make Your Minutes Matter!
Lifestyle, Nutrition, Recipes
I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is in less than ONE WEEK – this year has absolutely flown by (I’m not really sure why that keeps surprising me though – every single year). I ran across this post on FoodMatters.tv with tips for a healthier Thanksgiving and thought I’d share today – just in case you’re concerned about your diet over the holidays. They included some of the usual suspects (eat more veggies, skip the booze, and be mindful of what you’re eating) but it’s always good to refresh your memory, especially this time of year. I was particularly struck by #6 (Look after you). It’s so easy to let peer pressure ruin even the best plan – and SO HARD to turn Grandma down when she’s adding food to your plate.
I think we’re going to try making a cauliflower/mashed potato hybrid I found at hungry-girl.com (see below) and since we’re eating gluten free over here (medical reasons) I’m going to play with a wild rice based dressing this year.
Stop by our Facebook page to share your stay-healthy plans for Thanksgiving.
HG’s Miracle Mashies
PER SERVING (1/5th of recipe, about 2/3 cup): 82 calories, 1g fat, 168mg sodium, 16g carbs, 3g fiber, 2g sugars, 3g protein —PointsPlus® value 2*
Mixing cauliflower and potato is a GREAT way to get true mashed potato taste and texture, with a healthier, lower calorie spin. Woohoo!
Ingredients:
One 12-oz. russet potato
3 cups cauliflower florets
3 tbsp. fat-free half & half
1 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread
1/4 tsp. salt, or more to taste
Optional seasoning: black pepper
Directions:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, peel and cube potato.
Add cauliflower and cubed potato to boiling water. Once returned to a boil, reduce heat to medium. Cook until potatoes and cauliflower are very tender, 15 – 20 minutes.
Drain and transfer cauliflower and potato to a large bowl. Add half & half, butter, and salt. Thoroughly mash and mix. Enjoy!
MAKES 5 SERVINGS
Lifestyle, Nutrition
There is a tendency in our culture to expect maximum return with minimal investment.
Fast food … Texting … Weight loss … Love …
If something’s going to happen I expect it to happen NOW.
The Minute Movement® program won’t give you that. The focus of this program is not immediate, drastic transformation. While we completely recommend that you work to the point of burnout during each movement, we don’t want you pushing yourself to the point of actual burnout. The focus of this program is creating positive lifestyle changes that really are sustainable for the rest of your life.
The type of fitness program that results in 60 pounds of weight loss in 90 days are not typically sustainable for the rest of your life.
Why not?
Well, for one thing they’re very time consuming. You are usually required to hit the gym for a minimum of 30 minutes, five days each week. While this type of program can be fun and rewarding and is completely doable when you’re single and work a 9 to 5 job – it doesn’t translate well to the way many of us are actually living our lives. Then you have the diet portion of these programs – which are typically very, very intense.
So, even if you are a person who can fit the workouts into your schedule and won’t have anyone complaining about chicken breast for dinner every night; you may still find yourself feeling exhausted or deprived and eventually reverting to old habits.
Minute Movement is about changing your life – and the way you look at your life. So, while you might not see miraculous changes every time you step on the scales (and we don’t recommend putting too much power in that number anyway) you can be confident you are creating positive habits that you can sustain for the rest of your life.
Exercise, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Motivation, Nutrition, Spiritual Health
Many of you may be wondering how I developed the Minute Movement. Well, I came up with the basic idea several years ago but did not put it into action until recently. I am a full-time home mortgage lender with a busy schedule revolving around work and family. And like many people, I had difficulty finding the time to exercise. Until one day, feeling fed up and frustrated, the motivating factor appeared. I was asked to be best man in my brother’s wedding. Suddenly, I knew I had to spring into action if I wanted to look good for the wedding. I planned out a few simple routines and the next morning got started at my office.
This routine of one-minute intensive exercises exceeded my expectations. By the second week, I was amazed by how good I felt. After three weeks, my wife noticed that I looked fit and had more energy. So, I shared my secret with her and the Minute Movement was born.
What exactly is the Minute Movement?
The Minute Movement is a unique blend of one-minute Isometric and Isotonic exercises, which produce maximum results from minimal effort. It’s a patent pending health, wellness and strength system designed for busy people who know they should be exercising, but simply do not have the time.
It keeps you energized throughout the day. It helps you manage your time more effectively. The program is designed for men and woman of any age or fitness level. This is the quickest and most efficient way to maintain your health and strength because it can be accomplished effectively anytime and anywhere.
