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Monday, January 31, 2011

Sunday, January 30, 2011

an inspirational weight-loss story from one of my readers!

I'd like all of you to meet an inspirational woman with an incredible journey to success! She is a reader of Lets Move It Mommas and has a fabulous blog, Just Another Mom On The Run, which serves as encouragement and motivation for all of us Mommas out there!! She has agreed to share her story with all of you and I hope you will go check out her blog and show her some love!
To get things started, I wanted to share her before and after pics...which are amazing!
I think I can speak on behalf of all of us that she looks AMAZING!!
Before:
After:


Here is her incredible story:
Kimert writes, Two years ago I decided enough was enough with this gaining weight or making attempts at losing weight without being successful. I was determined and motivated for the first time in my life to make an absolute lifestyle change. My best friend registered me just months before to run my first 5k and it took me almost 50 minutes to cross the finish line. Overweight and out of breath I vowed to beat my time the next year. In April of 2009 I went to one of those walk in weight loss centers (for the 2nd time) and started my journey to healthiness for the last time. Since that day I have lost a total of 60 lbs, but it was only 2 months after stepping foot in that center that I decided I wanted to do this thing on my own. I started eating healthy and going to my gym on a regular basis. I started the Couch to 5k running program for the 2nd time but also decided to make this the last time I started it. Running 3 days a week and going to the occasional BodyPump or Core Challenge class at my gym, seeing results from all those activities, kept me motivated and more determined to just keep going. Along the way there were many struggles. There were days I was exhausted and would rather not go to the gym and honestly I would make the worst excuses to not go. There were days I wanted to throw all the healthy food in the trash and go get a big fat burger and fries. Were there actually days that I took those excuses and didn't go to the gym? Yes. Were there days that I decided to forgo the healthy food and eat that burger? Yes. Do I regret those decisions? No. I feel that by allowing myself to mess up means that I am human, BUT was I gaining success from my mistakes? Nope. After 18 months my weight was at a standstill and I was frustrated. Rather than give up and turn my back on the success I had already had I sought help. I went to the dietitian at my gym and she put me on a program that would prove to be the ultimate success for me. While I have only lost 10 lbs on that plan I have learned a lot about counting calories, carbs, fat, etc but also how to use food to fuel my body for my running and workouts. I never in a million years would have guessed that I would be a runner. I started out just running 5k s and just last year I told my husband I was going to start looking past the 5k distance to the 10k distance but apparently running is a lot more fun for me than I thought it would be and here I am almost 2 years later 60 lbs lighter, 5 pants sizes smaller and training to run my first half marathon on April 3, 2011.
I still have days that I struggle with the girl I see in the mirror. Sometimes the girl I see in the mirror is the one that just 2 years ago weighed 230 lbs. Some days when I walk out the door I feel like that 230 lb girl. This has been my biggest struggle through my journey. People who see me say, "Oh wow you are so skinny. You look great." But I do not see a skinny girl and some days I am very afraid that I will never see what those people see in me. This is the part of my journey that I am still working on.
Kimert, thank you for sharing your story with all of us!
Congratulations to you, and your weight-loss success :)

Thursday, January 27, 2011

have FONDUE night, tonight!


Move It Momma's HEALTHier FONDUE!!
You'll Need:
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup light beer(hey, I said healthIER NOT healthIEST!)
4 cups 2% shredded cheese-any flavor
1/4 cup non-fat milk
Saute onion and garlic, then add beer and simmer for about 5 minutes or until onion/garlic becomes transparent. Then turn heat to low, add cheese and milk, stir until thick sauce forms. Immediately remove from heat once melted and transfer to fondue pot! That's IT! Slice up your favorite veggies, but if you've ever been to our most favorite restaurant, The Melting Pot, you'll know that apples are THE best dipped in the cheese!
I'm serious, JUST TRY IT! soooo good! I used red, delicious apples and gala!
Also, we used cauliflower, broccoli, celery and the boys dipped crackers! Ha!


Workout Tip:
I have been attempting the "6 week 6 pack" by Jillian Michaels along with my indoor cycling bike routine. So far, so good. The first day, I could barely get through it, but now that I'm on day 4, it seems to get a little easier. I have NO abdominal strength, sad but true, but I'm trying and that's what counts! RIGHT? RIGHT!!!
What workouts are working for you right now??! I'd LOVE to know!!
*I have been asked by several readers, what do I do to maintain my weight-loss after my long battle of being overweight and unhealthy? My answer is simple, EVERY DAY is a challenge. I must work at it always. If I want a day to splurge, I do it but that means the next day, I pay VERY close attention to what I am putting into my body and what I'm doing in terms of exercise. It's SO important to find that balance...although my healthy way of life happened 10 years ago, each day is a struggle. I love the way exercise makes me feel and I know that I am giving my family the healthiest Mom I can be, by sticking to that healthy way of life! It's a constant reminder of who I used to be, and who I'll never be again :) As always, any questions email me at rissarose80@yahoo.com, I'd love to hear from ya :)

Monday, January 24, 2011

link to "my weight-loss story"

My weight-loss story is posted on my family blog, HERE...
check it out if you get a chance, its definitely worth reading :)

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Mm, Mm GOOD!

I like to think of my mom as THE best cook ever, but some of her dishes can be, well a little fattening! So, I took this recipe of my mom's
and fixed it up a bit. It was DELICIOUS and HEALTHY too!!! Move It Momma's Chicken N Dumplings!
You'll Need:
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 large yellow onion, chopped
4-5 stalks celery with the ends, chopped
2 cups all purpose baking mix(I used Heart Healthy Bisquick)
2/3 cup nonfat milk
2 tbs flaxseed meal
salt/pepper to taste
Boil chicken until no longer pink, then add chopped celery and onion and continue to boil. When onions look transparent, add salt and pepper to taste(I added very little salt and 1 tsp pepper!), then simmer. In separate bowl, mix 2 cups baking mix, milk and flaxseed until soft batter forms. Bring chicken mixture back to a boil, add heaping teaspoon-sized dough balls into boiling mixture. Should make about 10 dumplings(serving size is 2 dumplings!). Cook uncovered for 10minutes while boiling, then cover and cook another 10 minutes. Serve hot and add whatever veggies you want to the mix as well, I'm sure carrots would have tasted great too,
but we were all out :(
*I added a little water to mixture before adding dumplings to reduce thickness.
This was DELICIOUS!!!
You should try some NOW, I mean it...RIGHT NOW :)


Today's workout:
45 minutes with different resistance on the spin bike. 20 minutes of toning (taught by myself, for myself in my living room...Ha!)

Thursday, January 20, 2011

I did it...well, part of it!

*Disclosure:
picture taken years ago, after having my first son...
don't judge me, PLEASE??! Ha!
this AWFUL picture of myself was taken before completing my first, Duathlon. I had JUST had my first son, Jacob, 6 months before this picture...not that its an excuse,
but you can tell I wasn't in the best shape :(
This was years ago, I signed up and completed my first Duathlon-
(3 mile run, 12 mile bike, 3 mile run)I survived and was prepared to finally conquer a triathlon. But ya know how life goes, I was raising my son, working full-time as a P.E teacher...this goal was put on hold. Especially after I got pregnant with my second son. Now that my youngest is 20 months old and I've been training and working out hard like I used to :), I think its time for me to FINALLY achieve my goal of completing a triathlon! Yayyyy!!! You can clap for me, if ya want??! Ha!
It will be a sprint triathlon and I'm not competing with ANY ONE but myself. Just ME! To accomplish something I've wanted to do for SO long. With my 31st birthday TOMORROW, I know this is something I want to do NOW! So, the date is March 6,2011...not too far from now! But I CAN do this!
I ask you to challenge yourself this year, try something you never thought possible...set a workout goal for yourself that you never thought possible until NOW and just DO it :) Set your mind to it and ANYTHING is possible. We can do it TOGETHER!!!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Monkey See, Monkey Do!

Yep, that's my four year old doing crunches right along with me on Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred! You can read my review of this series HERE. This totally proves that when your children see you working toward a healthy lifestyle, they will join right along with you!!...as I said, Monkey See Monkey Do! I was getting dressed to exercise and he asked if he could put on his "workout clothes" and do it with me??! Um, how could I turn down that offer! Y.E.S. you sure can!!!
Although I lost 85 lbs back in 2000, my weight has bounced up and down by about 10-15 lbs. Since having my youngest son 20 months ago, I hadn't seemed to shake the rest of the baby weight, sad but true. So, I'm proud to say that when my husband decided to change his way of life, it helped me step up my game too :)
I have lost 8lbs in about two weeks and here's how...
Workouts:
2 days a week: Jogging 3-4 miles
4 days a week: Spinning class, taught by ME and a class of only ME in my bedroom! Ha!
1-2 days a week depending on the week: workout video...either p90x or 30 Day Shred and I usually combine two of her workouts into one, because they are rather short!
Eating:
No "diet" but we practice healthy eating habits and keep our portions in check! High protein and veggies, low simple sugars/carbs and SMALL PORTIONS! Practicing portion control will get you results like you wouldn't believe!!
Plus, check out some of my great recipes on previous posts to give you some great healthy eating ideas and tips!!! Any specific questions,
FEEL FREE to email me at rissarose80@yahoo.com,
I'd love to hear from you and help your family in any way possible!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

my husband's weight loss story...a MUST read!

If you'd like to read about how my husband went from this...
December 2009 To this...
December 2010, taken just a few weeks ago :)
then go to my other blog, HERE and read his weight loss story!

I couldn't be more proud of him!




Monday, January 10, 2011

A Must Make, MINESTRONE soup!

Move It Momma's MINESTRONE!
You'll Need:
2 cans reduced sodium chicken broth
2 cans diced tomato-no sugar added
1 cup uncooked, whole wheat pasta-I used rotini
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup frozen broccoli
1 can cannelini beans-next time I would use 2 cans, it needed MORE beans!
1 tbs Italian seasoning
1/2 lb chicken breast, pounded and diced
2% mozzarella cheese-shredded for topping
2 tbs flaxseed meal-My secret that goes into ALMOST everything I cook :)
*Saute chicken breast until no longer pink on outside.
Add all ingredients, except cheese and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20minutes or
until vegetables are cooked and pasta is tender!
Serve with mozzarella cheese on top!
My boys LOVED this and my husband said he wanted this quick and easy meal once a week! Yayyyy! Its a MUST-TRY and can't wait to hear what your family says about this super healthy, super delicious SOUP too :)
Indoor cycling UPDATE:
I have lost 5lbs in one week just by adding this spinning routine 4 days a week. You can read about the bike I use, here. If you haven't read my blog in the past, when I became a stay at home mom, I had to get creative with my workouts, no fancy equipment and no gym membership. It consisted of workout videos, running/jogging, and bike riding outside with my boys! I had a CSN discount code that I used toward this bike, since like I had said before, I taught spin class in college. Whew, I'm FAR from the workout Guru that I used to be at that age, so last week my body was in TOTAL shock after doing this indoor cycling bike for just ONE DAY...sad, but true! Now I'm up to about 45-50 minutes, listening to my iPod, changing resistance constantly and going strong! I weighed in two days ago and I was at five pounds..woohooo, can't wait to see what a few more weeks will get me! On the days I do not use the bike, I jog outdoors-2-3 miles! Hope you're sticking to your resolutions and making 2011 a great year!!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

a little of this and a little of that

...and you've got a great, Move It Momma's SNACK MIX!!
You'll Need:
1/4 cup Kashi Go Lean Crunch
6 pretzels-you can break them apart
1 tbs sunflower seeds
8 almonds
heaping tbs raisins
This is SOOO good! Salty, sweet, chewy and crunchy...and its filling too!
Doesn't get better than that, huh?
This is a great mid-morning snack and I bag them the day before,
that way if my husband and I get hungry,
we have a pre-made snack so that we're not tempted to eat something not-so-healthy :)
To start the New Year on the right track, I've started spinning!
Yep, from blogging I was able to use my CSNstores discount toward an indoor cycling bike and I LOVE IT! I used to teach Spinning in college,
but since I had my two boys, I stopped going to the gym
and have been videos, running, and biking outdoors to stay in shape!!
Now that I have this bike, I am able to go in our bedroom, turn on my i-Pod, get in the zone and burn some major calories, and the best part...it feels GREAT!
Hope to lose a few more pounds and firm up EVERYWHERE!!!!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

"SHAKE" UP 2011

...with this yummy shake!
For three years now, I've been up late at night, unable to fall asleep and the "Magic Bullet" infomercial plays over and over again, begging me to buy one! Ha!
Would you believe THIS year, Santa FINALLY brought me one??! Yayyyyy!
So, to celebrate my "As Seen On TV" gift, a little
Move It Momma's SHAKE
that's sure to "shake" up your 2011!!!
You'll Need:
3 tbs plain Greek yogurt-I used Stonyfield
3 frozen strawberries
1/2 small ripe banana
1 tbs ground flaxseed meal
3/4 cup Pomegranate Blueberry 100% juice
and a few cubes of ice
Blend until reached desired texture and you're DONE!
SOOOOOO good, and a great shake to fulfill that mid-day hunger!
* Always be prepared...we tend to grab the quickest, Unhealthiest snacks when we've let our hunger get out of control, so instead PLAN AHEAD in 2011...prepare healthy snacks in a baggie to have on hand when that hunger strikes! Some of our favorites...raw carrots and broccoli, bell pepper with neufchatel cheese, and almonds just to name a few :)
Good luck with ALL of your resolution goals for 2011!!!