Fab Fit Squad

Barbie Birthday

The controversial icon turns 50!!! Is she still a controversy or have kids of today moved away from her because she’s not compatible with the Wii or PlayStation. As a young kid who didn’t play with Barbies, my sister and I whole closet devoted to the random assortment of Barbie clothes including the corvette, the townhouse and the RV.  I can’t tell you how many variations of Barbie had — scuba barbie, skipper, pj, and course it Ken and his variations. I even I had a Ken doll that you changed his beard, gotta love the 70s.

As an adult I started to hear rumbling of people saying that Barbie gives young girls a warped sense of self.  Really, I don’t remember thinking I was going to have bullet boobs or a size 2 waist.  I just enjoyed all the little adventures that my sister and I as well as all of our friends would come up with for our Barbies.  It was healthy imaginative play. What are your thoughts on Barbie?

March is National Frozen Food Month, yes its true.  I not sure if you use frozen vegetables as much as I do, but its my main source of vegetables. Primarily because I really like fresh, fresh food and I can’t guarantee that I will use fresh vegetables before they before a science experiment in my fridge. Does that sound like you?

Well in 1924 Clarence Birdseye invented the concept of frozen food, but it didn’t take off it was marketed to the masses, after World War 2 when the country was into convenience and those god awful TV dinners.

My favorite is frozen berries, I love berries and eat them every day. I put them in my oatmeal, yogurt, cottage cheese, I also enjoy them in a great post workout shake.  Here’s the recipe now hear me out, the ingredients may look a little strange but it tastes amazing.

• 1/2 avocado
• 1/2 c berries
• 1/4 c Gatorade
• 1 scoop whey protein (vanilla, strawberry or plain)
• 1/2 c ice

Blend — sorry werid, but tastes AMAZING.  Thanks Clarence for giving me frozen berries year round!

Yes, it’s an actual holiday and dates back hundreds of years.  Those crazy Europeans.  In Ireland they use to have pancake races where women would race flipping pancakes.  Back then it was called Shrove Tuesday.

OK let’s get down to what it really means PANCAKES!!! Who doesn’t love pancakes! You can go to IHOP (7am-10am) and get free pancakes with a suggested donation of any size to Children’s Miracle Network. So head on down to IHOP for some pancakes and to donate to a good cause.

Can’t make it to IHOP and want to make it your own. Try Lemon Ricotta Pancakes.

Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup (4-ounces) ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2/3 cup milk
Grated peel of 1 lemon
Juice of 1 lemon
Butter for the griddle

1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients with a fork until blended, do not overmix.
2. Heat griddle over medium-high heat. Lightly grease griddle with butter. As soon as the butter is melted, pour pancake batter onto griddle. Cook until batter begins to bubble or pancakes are golden. Flip and finish the other side. Serve pancakes warm with pure maple syrup

Makes 10 to 12 pancakes.
Recipe by Gail Greco
Recipe provided courtesy of the American Dairy Association.

Until yesterday, I thought they were a some type of cross bred mutant genetic thing.  But no…. It’s a way for carrot farmers to reduce waste.

Copyright Kai Hendry

Yep those little baby carrots start off as big carrots, but because they aren’t “pretty” enough for consumption, they are pared down to be baby carrots.

So thank you Mike Yurosek, for inventing this delicious snack. They make a delicious soup, plus no peeling.  Stay tuned for the recipe.

In Boston, hospitals are seeing a rise blood pressure of folks who had it under control just a few months ago they are also seeing the pounds come back on it their obesity clinic patients, many are reporting increases in migraine, tummy troubles, you need .  The stress of the economy takes it toll not only on your wallet, but your health.

Face it we’re STRESSED OUT, by the fear of the unknown.  So we cut back because we are unsure if today is the day I will lose my job, my house, my 401k or something else.  When times get uncertain do you reach for the comfort foods, do you just shut down and pray things are going to get better?

Because of the economy have you cut back on your exercise programs, cut back on eating healthy foods because they are too expensive?

Talk to me what have you cut back on and how is it affecting your health?

It’s National Compliment Day. Make this a day that you don’t beat yourself up. You give yourself a compliment.  Take a look in the mirror and find one thing you can compliment yourself.

Come on, you can find something. How about you work today to compliment 5 things about yourself. Now are you ready to take it a step further.  How about you compliment 5 people you meet today.

Don’t know where to start?  Here’s a starting point.

Today is Rid The World of Fad Diets Day.

What is a fad diet?

1. A diet that gets really popular and then falls out of favor.
2. Offers a quick fix
3. Eliminates food groups

There have been so many over the years, so I thought I list a few a get your input how many of these have you tried and what were your results?

• Atkins – For this diet how much bacon and pork rinds did you eat?
• Cabbage Soup — Really — I mean don’t you only eat that on St. Patrick’s day?
• The Zone Diet — 30/30/30 — I tried and let me tell could keep the math straight.
• Grapefruit Diet — when you eat these combined with a protein it will burn fat.
• South Beach — This diet is like the energizer bunny! I think I will have to come up with a new category for this one.

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”

This week is healthy week, so what does that mean? That means this week we are going to focus on what we can do to reach our healthy weight and maintain it.

With January comes everyone thoughts of losing those last 10 pounds, within weeks of January 1st.

Stop right their, thoughts like that are self-defeating.  Ideal weight loss is any where from 1-2 pounds per week.

So, what are you thoughts around healthy weight?

45% of people make a new year’s resolution yet less than 10% keep any of them.  Is it because they pick to many or is it because they aren’t ready to change?  Do we set our bars so high that when we don’t reach them we get disappointed and give up?

In order to make changes we go though 5 stages of change.

1. Pre-contemplation — someday you will (insert the topic)
2. Contemplation — someday soon I will do it
3. Action — today is the day so watch out
4. Maintenance — I got this

What stage are you in?  Don’t be afraid change is hard! You will get discouraged, you may question yourself, may be afraid to look like a fool, but guess what nothing easy is ever worth it

So, get moving!!!

This afternoon, I am meeting some friends that I made competing.  The friends I have made competing are amazing women, they all set goals and do whatever takes to meet them. We are meeting for lunch today on a snowy Saturday afternoon to talk about our goals for the next year.

My big hairy audacious goal (BHAG) next year is to compete in an Women’s Tri Fit Competition.  I have wanted to do this since 2005 and now I am taking the steps to make my goal come to fruition.  This year will be detailing my progress toward this goal, the training methods, mental focus and how manage this with trying to have a life.

For me the journey begins NOW!!! Tell me when does your journey begin?