PLAN FOR SUCCESS

Having a plan is so important in our success in life and health.  I think this quote says it well: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”  When something is planned out and written down, not only is the motivation kicked up, but also the personal challenge to reach that goal increased.  Besides, it is a written plan right in front of our face, and not something that we are only thinking about and may put into place someday.  See the difference?  If we are good stewards of our money for example, we are budgeting for expenses with our income and successfully paying our mortgages, rents, and overall bills.  Without that budget plan in place, I am sure we can all agree a huge financial mess would be the result of our irresponsibility.  Planning takes responsibility and a commitment to do what is best for our life and health.  Failing to plan sets us up for failure. 

Let’s get back to the plan and what it takes to put a health related goal into place.  I highly recommend an accountability journal to plan out strategies for exercise scheduling and also a healthy food tracking area to record food intake daily.  I also like to keep track of water intake, sleep and my overall mental game.  Tracking your weight on a scale one time per week is also motivational to see your progress and to ensure that the plan is working.  When the plan fails to function, it is never the goal that changes, but the plan or program.  Finding what works for each of us is a trial, error and fine tuning of our plan until we see the results of our investments. Just as it is exciting to pay down debt with a responsible budget plan, it is equally or even more exciting to reduce our waist lines through our commitment to the plan of adopting a healthy lifestyle. 

Everybody understands the need and importance of money to support our lives and my goal is to convey that our health banks are even more important. Imagine not balancing our checkbooks and leaving out transactions each day to the point of not knowing the balance.  Accounts would be overdrawn, additional fees paid, collectors knocking at the door, and stress increased tenfold.  That same analogy can be applied to our daily exercise and food intake.  If we do not balance our food intake, write down what is consumed, or never record our exercise expenditure, we are setting ourselves up for weight gain, increased risk of disease and illness, increased stress, and eventually doctors knocking at the door. Looking at how important a plan is for success in these terms should motivate all of us to implement them today. 

Living a healthy life is not a guessing game or a wish and we are only kidding ourselves when we run around without a plan.  Success comes when daily habits of eating healthy and moving our bodies are made a planned priority. Do we sweep our money responsibilities under the rug?  Well, I suppose some may but the outcome is always an unhealthy consequence in doing so.  How much more important is our health and that so many people do just that, sweep it under the rug.  Let’s turn the goals of obtaining a fit body into more than just a wish by starting today with a plan for adopting a healthy lifestyle. 

GIVEAWAY TIME:

WINNER RECEIVES A FULL SIZE BOTTLE

Want to win a full size bottle of THE Herbal Face Food Facial Serum and have glowing skin like never before? 

Go to my Giveaway Page and enter to win the World’s 1st Organic, RAW, Edible, 100% plants face serum with an ORAC antioxidant rating of over 10 million, making it the most potent and powerful SUPER anti-oxidizing product of any kind. Made from organic plant concentrates, antioxidants and enzymes, which are sourced from all over the world.

Herbal Face Food™ is created by J. Michael Zenn, author of the bestselling book ‘Self Health Revolution’

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Stay Healthy!

Darla

user of THE Herbal Face Food and proud to show my images without photo shop or airbrushing. I am 50 years young and celebrate Fit at 50!

YOU DON’T NEED TO TELL ME I AM FAT

In my daily walk of being a trainer and consultant, I work with many beautiful people who want to lose weight and get healthy.  Guess what, they not only know and tell me that they are fat, but carry a heavy emotional burden of unhappiness about it.  I or anyone else does no need to verbally slap them across the face by telling them what they already know.  For some reason our society feels the need to point out the obvious as if the person does not know their own condition.  Who am I or you to judge anyone without walking in their shoes physically or emotionally?  I am blessed on a daily basis with gaining insight into the lives and emotions of those who are fat challenged, empathetic to many of the shares and driven to help them adopt a healthy lifestyle.

A fat person does not need to be told their fat just as a skinny or muscular person does not need to be told what their body looks like.  Standing in the truth of our own mirrors tells that story.  There are strong stated “no excuse” and “your fault” labels placed on the fat challenged and even coming from those working in the fitness industry.  Blanket or general statements of blame seem a bit harsh without knowing each individual’s circumstances in life.  Sadly, strong and hurtful terms can be used as publicity gaining ploys but at the emotional expense of those who are in a fat challenged position in life.

I am not saying that it is a healthy state of well-being to be fat and that it should be an accepted way of life.  That is way off the base of this blog.  What I am addressing is the unfair judgments, statements, and ignorant approach to those who are fat challenged.  All people deserve to be treated with respect and honor and we definitely should not be throwing stones when most of us live in glass houses.  There are many people running around unhealthy and simply not wearing it on the outside of their bodies in the form of fat.  Imagine if everything about everyone was exposed automatically for all to see.  In such a state, I guarantee the judgments would quickly come to a halt and all of us would be running with our unhealthy tails tucked between our legs.

Whether the amount of overweight is twenty, forty, or over one-hundred pounds, the person carrying the extra weight knows and feels that burden without me as their trainer or you as an observer saying anything. Those people dealing with obesity need to feel safe to share what has gone on in their life that has brought them to such an unhealthy state of living.  Some are at the point of owning their sabotage and others are still lost in denial and not ready to make healthy changes.  I do not need to blame or fault anyone because those feelings are always shared honestly with me by those who are fat challenged.  Obesity carries a stigma that is negative and can feel painful for those that suffer it daily.  I like that saying that goes “you have fat, you are not fat” because it is not the abundance of fat that should define us as a person. 

All of us in this life want to be healthy, and even supported through the process.  It is our personal responsibility to create that healthy life regardless of our size and shape, and the healthy choices that we make today will form our healthy tomorrows.  I know what needs to be done and what makes me feel great as a healthy person, and what I offer is support, motivation and education to those who desire to get there.  All of us can find reasons to procrastinate and that is probably a good place to start by asking that question.  Why are you waiting?

GIVEAWAY TIME:

WINNER RECEIVES A FULL SIZE BOTTLE

Want to win a full size bottle of THE Herbal Face Food Facial Serum and have glowing skin like never before? 

Go to my Giveaway Page and enter to win the World’s 1st Organic, RAW, Edible, 100% plants face serum with an ORAC antioxidant rating of over 10 million, making it the most potent and powerful SUPER anti-oxidizing product of any kind. Made from organic plant concentrates, antioxidants and enzymes, which are sourced from all over the world.

Herbal Face Food™ is created by J. Michael Zenn, author of the bestselling book ‘Self Health Revolution’

DON'T MISS MY FREE UPDATES

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list, or if you want to receive my free updates, use the button at the right to select your feed preference. I look forward to responding to your comments and appreciate your shares.

Stay Healthy!

Darla

user of THE Herbal Face Food and proud to show my images without photo shop or airbrushing. I am 50 years young and celebrate Fit at 50!

THE LAST TEN POUNDS

The last ten pounds can be a struggle, especially when everything comes to a screeching halt.  The scale is no longer budging, frustration is happening and the stress of it all is putting the adrenal glands on overdrive.  A cortisol rush is the last thing our bodies need when we are trying to lose that last ten pounds as studies have shown that it hampers our ability to lose weight.  The important thing to understand is that plateaus are normal in our journey of health and weight loss.  Also, adjustments with our food intake and exercise program will need to be reviewed several times along the way. 

Keep up the positive and progressing with your program regardless of what the scale says.  Many factors are at play when the body begins to slow down and usually a simple review and change up of the program gets things moving again. Things to consider: are you eating enough? The body is a wonderful machine and knows exactly what to do with the food we consume and knows when it is not getting enough fuel.  If we withhold fuel from our body, it will refuse to give up any reserves.  Our body sees that as energy and we need energy to burn energy.  Are you being true to your program?  Sometimes we fall back into old patterns and re-introduce foods that are not on the healthy menu for weight loss and many can even be in denial about that.  Our body will remain in a maintenance or weight gain pattern if we are not honest with our healthy food intake.  Are you exercising less? With a reduction of exercise there will be a reduction in the amount of weight that is lost per week.  Simple math spells out with the expenditure of energy results in the reduction of weight.  Take some time to review your priorities and determine if exercise has taken a backseat.  Are you burned out?  This can happen to all of us and it is important to add plenty of variety to our workout programs and healthy foods to keep the interest high.

The last ten pounds can be a challenge, but they can also be another tool of learning along our weight loss journey.  We can choose to become frustrated and throw in the towel, or open up our minds to do what it will take to get back on track with the program.  It is also important to take one day and one pound at a time and celebrate everything done to create a healthy body.  The last ten pounds will respond to what you are willing to do to be rid of it, or keep it.  It still comes down to choices and changes, and it is always a good thing to get a refresh on the mental battery to provide the motivation we need to keep going.  

GIVEAWAY TIME:

WINNER RECEIVES A FULL SIZE BOTTLE

Want to win a full size bottle of THE Herbal Face Food Facial Serum and have glowing skin like never before? 

Go to my Giveaway Page and enter to win the World’s 1st Organic, RAW, Edible, 100% plants face serum with an ORAC antioxidant rating of over 10 million, making it the most potent and powerful SUPER anti-oxidizing product of any kind. Made from organic plant concentrates, antioxidants and enzymes, which are sourced from all over the world.

Herbal Face Food™ is created by J. Michael Zenn, author of the bestselling book ‘Self Health Revolution’

DON'T MISS MY FREE UPDATES

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list, or if you want to receive my free updates, use the button at the right to select your feed preference. I look forward to responding to your comments and appreciate your shares.

Stay Healthy!

Darla

user of THE Herbal Face Food and proud to show my images without photo shop or airbrushing. I am 50 years young and celebrate Fit at 50!

Whole Grain Dijon Mustard Salmon Filets on a CousCous-Lentil Medley

The salmon fillets steam right on top of this flavorful couscous and lentil medley saving you time and the extra heat from the oven. It's crazy simple and takes about 20 minutes total but the fresh herbs, shallots, white wine and whole grain Dijon mustard will make it look like you slaved in the kitchen for an hour.  Shhhhh, our little secret.

Is it completely insane to want to buy a new car instead of cleaning it after spending 3 whole days camping in the mud with 3 kids, a 65 pound dog and a husband very at one with nature, muddy mess and all?  Oh, and to  never  want to go camping again unless there's a 5 star camper involved, preferably and Airstream this one. Or perhaps this beauty.  Then again, red is my color and this vintage red Airstream is all kinds of pretty.








I could get very, very comfortable here.

and here. no mud.

and this Airstream camper kitchen........ no roughing it involved.

Love.

Because honestly, tee pees are awesome and all but I'm willing to step it up a notch when it comes to comfort. Let's be real.

Back to dinner.



Skillet couscous and lentil medley with steamed mustardy salmon. Trust me. It's amazing.

Let's not make a fuss over dinner shall we? A bit of sautéing, a splash of white wine for deglazing and     a shmear (yes shmear) of whole grain, Dijon mustard atop salmon fillets and simply let it steam away for a very satisfying in so many ways dinner.

I tend to be a tad...  overdramatic  when it comes to good food.

Let's be clear. Fresh herbs make a dish shine as does a splash of wine. I like to balance out my meals with  complementing  flavors. What does that mean?  Whole grain Dijon mustard on the salmon pairs beautifully with the white wine used to deglaze and simmer down with the couscous. Carrots add just a touch of natural sweetness to the lentils in this dish and shallots contribute a very subtle yet significant contribution to temperamental dishes such as salmon.

You Will Need

4 small salmon fillets
3 tablespoons whole grain, Dijon mustard
1/4 cup dry, white wine such as a Chardonnay
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups Israeli couscous medley {a mixture of couscous, green and pink lentils and daikon radishes if you can find them}
2 cups chicken broth
1 large carrot, diced
1 shallot, sliced
5 sprigs fresh thyme plus more for garnish if you please



In a large saute pan heat oil over medium heat. Add shallots and carrots and sauté for 3-5 minutes stirring once or twice. Add couscous medley and toss to coat for 2 minutes. Slowly pour in white wine while stirring to deglaze pan. Let wine cook down for just one minute. Slowly pour in broth while stirring. Let the mixture come to a gentle boil then reduce heat to low.

Brush salmon fillets with mustard. Place salmon fillets on top of couscous. Cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes till salmon is just done.

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE TO CHANGE

We can all get stuck in a rut, feel funky, or backslide on our health and fitness programs.  Burnout and frustration are top reasons for giving up and falling into old habits and it is at that point where we can dig our heels in complete rebellion turning our noses up at the changes that need to happen to live a healthy lifestyle. The truth within each of us paints a different picture and honestly, we all want to be healthy and look the part but to really be healthy and feel healthy, you have to change to experience a change.  That is the truth with all things in life: change requires change.  If we are unhappy with our health, our body, our jobs, where we are in life, people in our life, our spiritual life, our emotional self and the list does go on and on, a deliberate choice to change to change needs to happen.  

Sometimes it is a difficult process to implement the necessary changes and our rebel self can surface and try to sabotage our attempts to do something great, and for the general populous succeeds unfortunately.  Getting mad about it will not bring about what needs to be done, but taking a personal inventory, making a promise to ourselves to change, and following through with that change is what will make the difference in our lives.  I suppose if the anger was channeled into the positive and motivates the change, then getting mad could be an OK thing.  However, I have seen anger turn into bitterness, which can lead to frustration and giving up all together.  Change takes a choice, takes patience and not perfection.  As we strive to change our health and fitness, it is important to realize that it will be a journey and a challenge.  Remember, that challenges in life are what change us and that becomes the learning tool of becoming a healthy person physically and emotionally.

I like that saying that goes “Do what you have always done and you will get what you have always gotten” because it rings true to what life and being healthy is all about.  If we do not change what we do, we will remain the same in our states of unhappiness, unhealthiness, depression, stressed out situations, and emotional wreckage. It is time to get out that paper and pen and start dissecting our lives and owning the unhealthy parts so that we can figure out what needs to be done to change each area. Are you unhealthy, unhappy, stressed, depressed, anxious, or angry and whatever question you want to add? Why and what needs to be done to change that? The goal for each of us is to implement the changes that will create the healthy changes that will last a lifetime.  I find that once health is made a priority and the body starts feeling better, it is easier to move forward and make other changes as our bodies are better able to deal with stress and emotional situations.  Let’s make the change to change not only a “have to” but a “want to” for a happier you and a healthier life. 

Stay Healthy Fitness Happenings: Want to promote your business through low cost Ad Space or a fun Giveaway with Stay Healthy Fitness? Check out my pages for Ad Space or Host a Giveaway and I look forward to assisting you!

 

DON'T MISS MY FREE UPDATES

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list, or if you want to receive my free updates, use the button at the right to select your feed preference. I look forward to responding to your comments and appreciate your shares!

Darla Leal, Fit at 50
 Orange Photography 2014

Lamb Keema with Potatoes

Lamb Keema is a very popular dish in Persia and Indian countries.  It's a very simple weeknight meal and the spices and ingredients are easily interchangeable. This is the recipe we have been making for years and every single one of my children loves it which is nothing short of a miracle!

I wish you could smell this dish, it's aromas are breathtaking. It may not look very pretty but the flavors of the spices and chili gives it so much depth. Balanced out with whole yogurt which adds a bit of creamy sweetness to this Indian dish and you have yourself a winner.






You can use rice instead of potatoes if you wish and ground beef or turkey for the lamb. However, I implore you to try lamb if you have been hesitant to, it's flavor is incomparable to beef and all of the lamb I've seen available in markets are free range and fed a natural diet and therefor healthier and more humane than most cattle.  We eat very little meat in this house and lamb is my favorite next to elk. Sorry vegetarians.

2 tablespoons ghee or coconut oil ( I strongly recommend using either of these, I use coconut oil)
1 yellow onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2" fresh ginger root, peeled and minced
1 green chili (Anaheim or poblano) chopped (or 1 teaspoon chili powder)
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon Garam Masala
1 pound ground lamb
3 small Yukon gold potatoes, diced into 1/2" cubes
3 plum tomatoes, chopped
3/4 cup fat free, plain yogurt
salt to taste
3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

Put oil in medium size hot skillet & saute onion, garlic, ginger root, chili, and spices. Add ground lamb and stir until it's mostly cooked, then add potatoes, salt and tomatoes. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Add peas and yogurt and simmer 5 minutes more. 

Take off heat and add cilantro. Serve w/ chutney (optional)

Ultimate Halloween Roundup

Halloween is my favorite "Holiday".  Partly because the weather finally dips into the double digits here in Phoenix but mostly for the creepy fun costumes, decor and parties. We have a chili 'cook off' every year and have friends over to sit around the fire pit. The kids love making crafts to hang all over the house and turning our front yard into a cemetery.

These cute hand print plates from Mom Endeavors are not only fun but will help your little one with fine motor development.

Been saving up those toilet paper rolls? Nows your chance to let the kids create a whole village of spooky Halloween creatures. From Space Ships and Laser Beams.

Family Fresh Meals has you covered for creepy fun lunch box treats.

Macaroni and cotton swab skeletons and simple side walk ghost lanterns from Spoonful.

Having a few friends over for a Halloween Party or just want to entertain the family? These simple games are classics for a reason. Courtesy of Babble.

I loved this as a kid! Perfect for a kid friendly Haunted House. 

Peel the skins off of grapes for "Slimy Eyeballs"  

Wet noodles for "Brains or Veins"  

Dried Apricots for "Tongues"  

Corn husk threads for "Old Witch Hair" 

Dried Corn for "Teeth"

Fake Fur "Rats"

Slime for "Guts"

Don't forget to take pictures of their facial expressions! 

This one is my favorite! I can't wait to use this as the centerpiece for the snack table.

photo courtesy of Stylista

For your Adult Haloween Party and Decorating ideas, Stylista has some of the creepiest ideas on the web. 

Shots!

Old store foam heads with cheesecloth, a fog machine and some scary background music, scare the kids and the parents.  

Happy Haunting!

Do you have any Halloween traditions?