EA Sports: Active More Workouts - Active For Life 6-Week Challenge - & Our Hubby vs. Wife Competition

There I was just blogging from my heart about how much I loved EA Sports Active and was so excited about how there was a new expansion pack called EA Sports Active: More Workouts coming out. Next thing I know, I got contacted by EA Sports offering me one to try out and asked if I wanted to join their Active For Life 6 Weeks Challenge! Well, if they could see me skipping around the house, they would have known my answer! :)

When it arrived, it also came with an EA Sports Active Multiplayer Pack. Since I already had one from the EA Sports Active, I called my hubby up and said, "Looks like your wish to lose weight has just come true!"

Never did I think he'd agree to it, but he did. He's going to do the Active For Life 6 Week Challenge with me! We were going to start on the November 20th date with the others but I've been having some shoulder pain and wanted to wait for it to go away before we did. So....tonight's the night!

We are actually pretty excited about our "friendly competition." We haven't completely set our winnings up yet but I think it's going to be whomever loses the most percentage of weight gets a "Free Saturday"---A Saturday to do whatever, kid-free. Shop. Watch Movies. Play Video Games. Whatever.

So tonight we are weighing in and starting our first workout. I'm a little nervous since my friend Jenn, of SuperJenn, already started and said that they are such great workouts that she's sore already! SWEET! No pain, no gain, I guess!

Now just so you know, I have put on a little weight since my 30-Day Fitness Challenge this summer. I was sick for a good two weeks in October and not able to exercise. I also indulged waaaayyy to much on Halloween candy and food at three parties now! So we'll see how high the scale shows.

Hoping that you will also consider picking up the EA Sports Active: More Workouts or even the 1st edition called EA Sports Active. Remember, Amazon has a hot price on it now for $39.99!

Looking forward to sharing our fun Hubby vs. Wife updates. And let me tell you what a privilege this is for me that my Hubby is letting me blog about it. He's usually a very private person. He's so supportive of my blog but he usually remains a "behind the scenes" kind-of-guy.

Thank you to EA Sports for the opportunity to test out the EA Sports Active: More Workouts! You can check out all that they have going on over HERE. Also, if you looking for an additional support group, don't forget my friends over at the Wii Mommies!

Rite-Aid Rite Weight Plan and $50 in Coupons!!

Sarah from Pocketbook Pearls sent me the most exciting email today! She discovered that Rite-Aid has a FREE Weight Plan program! As if that wasn't enough, upon verifying your registration, you'll get $50 in coupons! Sarah has them all listed HERE.

Now, the FREE Weight Plan program has several nice features:

-Enter your weight into your on-line chart every morning
-Print your Daily Action Plan (Tracking Meals, Fluids Consumed, Measurements & Goals)
-General Menu Guide
-Preferred Foods List
-Daily Motivational e-mails
-Audio seminars, etc.

I just signed-up myself. Make sure you use a valid email address that you can check as that's where you'll get your confirmation email w/ coupon link and all weight program information. When you sign-up, it gives you the option of offering additional info. such as address. I figure, why not. Maybe I'll get coupons/deals mailed to me BUT I'm not saying they will. I just wanted to throw that out there as it wasn't too obvious that if you click on it, it asks you for it at sign-up.

Thanks so much for sharing, Sarah! This is perfect for my 30 Day Get Fit Challenge! :)

Blog Posts: 100 Calorie Snacks

My friend, Clair, of Mummy Deals has a great posting HERE with some ideas for creating your own little 100 Calorie Snack Packs, for your own snacking or kids' lunches. Some are healthier than others but like the rule goes...just everything in moderation. You don't need to deprieve yourself of a little "unhealthy" every now and then. :)

I do my best to make up small snacks once a week so I don't cave in to the unhealthier stuff. It's amazing the little amount of time it takes. And the greatest part? My son is always watching what I do. So he now loves to munch on celery and apples and the healthier snacks. I honestly can't keep enough apples in the house! As soon as I get them home from the store, I'll wash them all up and put them in the fruit basket on the table so they are ready for us to dig into.

Thanks for sharing, Clair!!

30 Day Get Fit Challenge: Friday's Update

For those of you new to the blog, myself and 2 other bloggers decided to get together and do a 30 Day Get Fit Challenge for the month of August. You can read more about it HERE. It's just a simple commitment we've made to take time out of our daily lives to focus on a little healthier lifestyle. We've decided to incorporate a little exercise and healthier eating habits into our daily routines.

Week two was a little bit of a juggling act. It seemed like we had a lot going on in the evenings and it was quite the challenge to figure out how to squeeze in the time on the EA Sports Active. I actually ended up missing yesterday but it happens. Despite what you may think, I don't actually find exercising easy to fit in. It's a battle each day to convince myself to workout. Mostly because I have about 70 things go on at once, it seems, and it's always a question of what has the higher priority at that time. But after I do my workouts, I'm always glad that I did, and it's that feeling that I try to remind myself of when I debate...will I or won't I?

In some ways, it's a good thing I made this commitment this month because it's helped me to not cave to the unhealthier foods and I've been enjoying quite a few fresh veggies and fruits that are currently in season. Despite blogging about them before, I am still amazed at how just simple little changes can add up over time.

So, how did your week go?

BallyTotal Fitness: Free 7 Day Pass *Deal Ended*

This one seems to fit into our 30 Day Get Fit Challenge so I thought I'd share. Bally's Total Fitness is running another promotion for a FREE 7-Day Pass. You can check out the details HERE.

Gear Up! 30 Day Get Fit Challenge Starts Tomorrow!

I just wanted to give you a little reminder that if you are planning on joining in on our 30 Day Get Fit Challenge, it starts tomorrow. (Not that you can't jump in late in the game!)

Getting fit does not mean simply exercising. The goal of our challenge is just to make our lives a little bit healthier. Each of the 3 bloggers participating have their own goals, as might you.

I hope you make a committment to take one month and focus on you. On possibly eating a little healthier. Or exercising a little more. Or bits of both.

I'm looking forward to starting my 30 Day Challenge on my EA Sports Active

Hope you join us!

Friday's Follow-Up: Fitting Back Into My Clothes- Wk 7

So last week, I left off at 117.8. And if I weren't an adult who understands the concept of free will and taking responsiblity for my own actions, well, then I'd totally blame my husband and his friends for what the scale says now: 118.6. Over the weekend, they tailgated and took only what they thought they'd need with them. Leaving behind so much junk food; cookies, chips, candy, etc. And then I decided I'd make them Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes, as I saw the recipe online that day. By Monday evening, the scale said 120.6 and I didn't feel that great. But, since things happen for a reason, this is the good that came of it:

1) I remembered just how horrible junk food makes me feel and I'm not going to forget that feeling any time soon.

2) On Tuesday, I finally did a custom workout on the EA Sports Active and it was amazing! It truly is like having your own personal trainer at home!! I got so much energy from just one workout, that I was awake until 1AM. Just the boost I needed from the lack of energy the few days before.

3) I lost two of those pounds by eating healthy throughout the week.

4) I told my hubby we should try to go all of August with no junk food; focusing on our snacks and lunch sides. (Though, I agreed he could still have his occasional pop.) It will be interesting to see what snacks and lunch items I can find for him that are decently healthy and that he likes.

5) It's put me on a mission to find healthier recipes.

So that's my week in a nutshell. 2.8 lbs gained, 2 lbs lost. What's important is that I know where I went wrong and I got back on track again. No one says you have to stop exercising just because the scale doesn't go the way you want.

Remember, scales are just one tool of measurement. You should always have a second--maybe clothes or actual body measurements. One of my readers only lost 2 lbs but lost 4 inches, too! (Congrats!!)

How did your week go? Do you have any fitness or healthy blog posts to share? Leave a linky or comment to share.

Freebie: Jillian Michaels Downloads!

Photo From Exercise TV Store.

Exercise TV Store is offering a FREE Jillian Michaels Download! It states "15 FREE Mini Workouts-Video Download." Check it out HERE.

Jillian Michaels is an amazing trainer that will have you in shape in no time. So if you have the computer space, these would be worth the time to download!

Thanks, The Freebie Blogger!

Friday's Follow-Up: Fitting Back Into My Clothes- Wk 5

So I figured out that there is a negative to signing up for birthday clubs---it's hard to resist using all of the freebies they send you! :) Last week I left off at 118.2 and this week I'm at...118.8. Yes, I know. I'm going the wrong direction on the scale! But, to be 100% honest, I figured it was going to be worse. Between birthday freebies and parties, I didn't cook supper from Friday - Tuesday! 5 Days!

This is the first time in my life that I'm actually proud of myself for gaining 1/2 a pound, so to speak! If I hadn't changed my eating-out habits, it probably would have been a 3-4lb weight gain! So what did I do different?

First off, as soon as my food came, I cut it in half and saved the rest to-go. Almost everywhere we went, the portions were outrageously large. Another thing I did was ask for any extras on the side. This way, I could add only what I needed. I made sure to request high-calorie condiments, such as mayo, to be left off. And I opted for water or milk to drink. (Though, I did "treat" myself to some sweet tea the one night!)

I am excited that I am finally able to start the EA Sports Active. I think I may start the 30 day challenge on Monday. We had a lot of house-stuff planned for this weekend and I didn't want to miss a day off the bat so I didn't start on the 1st.

Thursday night, it was a little cooler out so I took a chance and tried on those slightly snug size 6 jeans I had gotten for Christmas. Not only do they now respectfully fit, but they are even a little loose! This is the reason why you should never use the scale as your only measurement for weight loss.

How did your week go? Were you able to get in a little fitness or alter your diet to a healthier one? Feel free to share via Mr. Linky or in the comments field below this posting.

30 Ways to Lose a Pound: Re-Cap

Now that the series is complete, I thought I'd do a little recap of all 30 little ways that you can change some small habits or add new ones to your routine to possible lose a pound. Keep in mind that I'm not a Dr. nor am I a nutrition/fitness expert. So always check with your Dr. before changing ANY of your current diet/fitness routine.

TIP #1: Know What It Takes To Lose a Pound

TIP #2: Switch Out One Pop/Soda (Or High-Caloric Beverage) Per Day For a Glass of Water

TIP #3: Find and Display Visual Goals

TIP #4: Set a Time for When The Kitchen's Closed

TIP #5 - Keep a Food Journal or At Least Log Your "Bad Snackings"

TIP #6 - Quit Nibbling While Cooking and Don't Finish Your Kid's Plates

TIP #7 - Have Healthy Snacks Ready and in View

TIP #8 - Believe in Yourself and Know You are Worth It!

TIP #9: - Keep Moving! Consider a Pedometer To Count Steps

TIP #10 - Add an exercise time into your weekly "to-do list" so that you don't forget!

TIP #11 - Sneak in Exercise and Consider Some Isometrics

TIP #12 - Drink Plenty of Water Daily

Tip # 13 - Never Eat While Distracted

Tip #14 - "Cleanse Your Palette" After Eating "Junk Food"

Tip #15 - "Go The Extra Mile" Whenever Possible

TIP # 16 - Give Yourself Some Rewards For Weight Loss

TIP # 17 - Remember---Everything In Moderation

TIP # 18 - Eat Meals A Little Slower and In Smaller Bites

TIP #19 - Switch Your Dinner Plates To Smaller Plates

TIP # 20 - Know the Proper Portions of Food

TIP #21 - Keep a Positive Attitude

TIP #22 - Join A Support Group or Online Chat/Group

Tip #23 - Cut Out High-Calorie Condiments Or Don't Forget to Log Them in Your Food Journal

Tip #24 - Switch Out One Unhealthy Side Dish for a Healthier One

Tip #25 - Use Plain Low-Fat Yogurt In Recipes Instead of Mayonnaise or Sour Cream

Tip # 26 - Downgrade Your Milk A Level Or Two

TIP # 27 - Switch Out A Meal or Two of Ground Beef With Ground Turkey

TIP #28 - Find Better Alternatives To Ice Cream

Tip # 29 - Make Small Cutbacks or Changes Here and There

Tip #30 - Cut-back on Items With Cane Sugar In Them

30 Ways To Lose A Pound Tip # 30

Tip #30 - Cut-back on Items With Cane Sugar In Them

This sounds like such a simple change, that you wouldn't think it would add up to that much weight. But I guess that's really how much sugar we all tend to have in our normal diets. According to WikiAnswers, the average American consumes 156 lbs of sugar a year! That's a little over 31 five pound bags! (I can still remember that Biggest Loser episode when they started pouring out all the sugar we consume for a visual aid! It just kept pouring out of the trucks!)

Examples of items with cane sugar in it are soda, sweet tea/coffee, cake, cookies, and even white bread. Only eat multi-grain bread. You can get "natural sugar" from fruits and vegetables.

Always be sure to check with your physician before making any major diet changes. This is especially important if you have diabetes and need to regulate sugar-levels.

30 Ways To Lose A Pound Tip # 29

Tip # 29 - Make Small Cutbacks or Changes Here and There

Sometimes all it takes to lose a pound is to simply make some small changes to our everyday eating habits. Something as simple as just eating a little less at each meal can add up over time. Or making simple changes to what we do eat or how we cook them. Switching from fried foods to baking or grilling them. Or eating just a little bit healthier. Here are a couple ideas:

1) Instead of scrambled whole eggs, try scrambled egg whites.
2) Instead of a muffin, eat whole wheat toast w/ peanut butter instead of butter/jelly.
3) Instead of peanuts or cashews, try raw unsalted almonds or even soy nuts.
4) Skip the cheese on sandwiches. (But be sure to get your milk for the day!)
5) Pass on cake & ice cream at parties.
6) Pass on the candy dish at work. (Or have sugar-free candy or sugar-free gum instead.)
7) When eating fast food, opt for the healthy side instead of french fries.
8) Eat fruit or pretzels instead of chips for snack times.
9) Skip on sugarery food and opt for sugar-free.
10) Try low-fat, reduced fat or fat-free alternatives. (Just check the salt levels!)

Just making simple changes and small sacrifices here and there can add up to a pound. And when those clothes fit or you feel comfortable in your own skin again, it will all be worth it! (Not to mention, you'll be creating a much healthier lifestyle!)

30 Ways To Lose A Pound Tip # 28

TIP #28 - Find Better Alternatives To Ice Cream

One of my favorite treats to indulge in is ice cream. I used to use ice cream in my smoothies. Now I've switched to plain yogurt or just milk instead with crushed ice cubes. Here are the calorie break-outs for variations, according to Fat Secret. These are all in 1 cup proportions.

Regular Vanilla Ice Cream = 290

Vanilla Frozen Yogurt = 234

Vanilla Light Ice Cream w/ No Sugar Added = 210

Vanilla Plain Yogurt (Not Frozen) = 208

You can even try some orange sherbet which has 214 calories per 1 cup.

Want an even healthier alternative for a cold treat? Try frozen grapes! Even frozen sugar-free popsicles are only 12 calories each!

This may not seem like much, but if you eat quite a bit of ice cream over time, it does add up. The best solution is to find a healthier treat and to only have ice cream on occasion. But it you just can't give up your ice cream, try switching to a healthier alternative. Over time, the little calorie changes could add up to a pound lost!

30 Ways To Lose A Pound Tip # 27

TIP # 27 - Switch Out A Meal or Two of Ground Beef With Ground Turkey

I've heard this one many times. And let me tell you, in some dishes, you barely notice the difference in taste! I usually use ground turkey in chili and casseroles.

According to Fat Secret, 3 oz of Extra Lean Ground Beef is 208 Calories vs. 3.9 oz of Extra Lean Ground Turkey having 120.

You can see that it's less calories for more ground turkey and this can add up to a lost pound in time!

Friday's Follow-Up: Fitting Back Into My Clothes- Wk 4

So, I left off last week at 119.0. Where am I at this week? 118.2. So close to that one pound weekly loss! I was so excited about it that I took a picture of the scale. (My desktop computer is acting up so I couldn't get the pic uploaded!) I'm not sure why I was so excited when I've weighed a lot less but maybe just because I wasn't expecting it to display that. I wasn't able to get in exercise every day this week. I was preparing for my coupon class and dealing with a defiant toddler. (To which I told him, it's OK buddy, we all have bad weeks!) Throw in some scorchingly hot and humid weather and we've got a tough exercise week.

BUT, I am sooo excited that I finally get my EA Sports Active next week. (Jenn, can you believe I didn't give in and open it earlier?!) I'm hoping to start up the 30 day challenge on July 1st. We'll see how it goes. If anyone else has it and wants to join in, it would be fun to share stories. We'll see how my knees hold up! (I've basically decided to wait on my 5K training for now.)

Changes I Made This Week:

~I took mental note of any time I wanted to grab a quick snack and dove for the celery or apples instead.
~I switched out my morning glass of milk with my cereal for yogurt. It's been helping to keep me fuller longer. (And it was soo cheap at Jewel!!) :)
~I did my best to stay in constant movement and not become a "couch potato" during the week. I planned some more active games with the kids instead of just playing toys on the floor.
~Whenever I'd get hungry by the computer, I'd drink a glass of water. It seemed to help.

So, how did your week go? Did you find time to get in a little fitness or alter your diet to a healthier one? Leave us a comment or linky!

Looking for a cool support group and some exercise inspiration? Check out my friends over at Wii Mommies HERE.

UPDATE: I just got to read this week Featured Fitness Friday story HERE from Wii Mommies. I am totally even MORE excited about starting the EA Sports Active now--which I didn't think was possible. And here's a shocker for you all---this week's feature...is from a Wii DADDI (not Mommi)! Yup! You'll want to check it out! If this thing helps me get in that good of a workout, then I might be telling my hubby it's the best present he's ever bought me! :)

30 Ways To Lose A Pound Tip # 25

Tip #25 - Use Plain Low-Fat Yogurt In Recipes Instead of Mayonnaise or Sour Cream

There are some recipes that you can switch out mayonnaise or sour cream for plain low-fat yogurt and not taste much of a difference. It's kind of a hit or miss game as to which taste good or not. But here's the calorie difference:

1/4 cup of Mayonnaise - 229 Calories

1/4 cup of Regular Sour Cream - 123 Calories

1/4 cup of plain low-fat Yogurt - 30 Calories

Wow, huh? 199 Calorie difference for Mayonnaise and 93 Calorie difference for sour cream! You can see how that can add up over time! (If nothing else, it's one less 100 Calorie snack that you have to "work off.")

30 Ways To Lose A Pound Tip # 24

Tip #24 - Switch Out One Unhealthy Side Dish for a Healthier One

One of the big changes I've made this year is cutting back on unhealthy "side dishes" at suppertime. Instead of French Fries or Processed Foods, I've been piling our plates with fruits, veggies or yogurt.

Just making a simple change like this can really help in knocking off a pound in no time!

30 Ways To Lose A Pound Tip # 23

Tip #23 - Cut Out High-Calorie Condiments Or Don't Forget to Log Them in Your Food Journal

When we start adding up our calories for each day, we often forget those simple little dollops of condiments that we spread on our food. And those can add up fast!

For example, one Tbsp of Mayo has around 57 calories. Ranch Dressing? 80 calories per Tbsp. 30 calories per Tbsp for sour cream. And 48 Calories per Tbsp for sugar or brown sugar. It may not sound like much. But if you had just a Tbsp of each of these in one day, that's 215 calories and you really haven't eaten anything!

So make sure that when you figure in your calories for the day, that you aren't forgetting to add in your condiments, too. Obviously, what would be best overall is to do away with as many as possible or switch to a healthier version of them. :)

You can make switches, too. Such as mustard for extra flavoring. It doesn't have any calories!

30 Ways To Lose A Pound Tip # 22

TIP #22 - Join A Support Group or Online Chat/Group

I've found that most things in life are easier when you have someone to chat with about what you are going through. The same goes for weight loss. Having someone who can keep you motivated and inspired may help keep your focus on your losing weight. Not only that, you might be able to inspire them in return, giving you that happy feeling you get from helping others.

There are several groups out there. Some are even free. And you can always join an online chat/group. I've enjoyed following along with the Wii Mommies in their journeys. I guess they are the group for me since most are Mommies struggling to keep up with the daily tasks, kids, losing weight and...they like to use the Wii for fitness needs.

If any of you have found a support group or chat that you enjoy, please consider leaving the link in the comments field. You might just help one of my reader friends find the inspiration they need to lose a few pounds.

Friday's Follow-Up: Fitting Back Into My Clothes- Wk 3

So I knew that I wouldn't meet my 1 pound loss a week goal this week so I suppose that helped when I stepped on the scale. 119.0. A whole 1/5 of a pound. (Down 2.5 lbs in 3 weeks, though.) But it's a loss, so that's good. It was real hard getting in exercise this week, as Kaydi was super clingy and it's been raining non-stop here in Chicago, preventing our daily walks. (I'm beginning to think this second tooth has to chisel through cement or something!)

But I did find a new way to sneak in more exercise. While Kaydi is in the Jumperoo, I've been doing stomach crunches. (Ouch!) They seem to help tighten up that stretched baby skin. And to be honest, the scale may not have moved much, but my clothes are fitting better than last week. So that's a bonus.

I'm excited that we were able to move my exercise bike to the family room. I've been working hard at re-arranging, well, basically the entire house. So now, when the kids are playing, I can get in some biking time. I think we may go look for some child seats for our outside bikes this next week.

So, while the scale didn't take a huge jump, I'm still pretty happy with the results. And at my willpower to resist cake/ice cream at the last party! We have six parties in five weeks. And with all the ice cream coupons/sales...it's really pushing the willpower to the next level! :)

How did your week go? Leave a linky to your blog or a comment on your progress. And for those of you looking for a support group, my fave is the Wii Mommies HERE.