Friday, November 30, 2012

East Coast Flair: Fit Friday Series

East Coast Flair: Fit Friday Series: Do like yogurt? Do you pay attention to the nutritional information of your favorite brand or do you just "eat it be...

Fit Friday Series

















Do like yogurt? Do you pay attention to the nutritional information of your favorite brand or do you just "eat it because I know it's healthy?" Well, if the latter is your response you just may be in for some sticker shock! I thought I'd found a brand I could live with, well, three brands. I normally go for Fage, Chiboni, or Voskos because I like what I've seen on the label. But did you know that yogurt can be as bad as a candy bar? By that I mean you must watch the sugar grams. Some of that greek yogurt out there that's paired with fruit can pack a whooping 21 grams of sugar! Considering the size of the container that is just too high a price for me to pay. While shopping the yogurt department ( I keep Fage  0% unflavored around to sub for sour cream) I came across the crown jewel of yougurt (I think!) Siggi's  Icelandic Style Skyr  it has 0%milkfat, 100 calories, 14g protein, and only 9g of sugar!!! That is great, just what I ordered. I have been eating yogurt as a treat item, but with this brand and using weights as I've been I can see me adding this as a regular snack in my day. Above I posted pictures of the container for you so you can find this or ask your local grocer to carry. I also wanted you to see the nutritional info yourselves. This will be the last post in 2012 that focuses on the food aspect of being fit. In order to truly be fit you must meet certain mental criteria and I will bring some topics to touch base on that health aspect for my readers. This time of year can be extremely stressful and I want my fit fanatics to be all around fit. Now go out there and make it a fit week all over again.

Friday, November 23, 2012

East Coast Flair: Fit Friday Series

East Coast Flair: Fit Friday Series: The above photo was taken from the menu at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. In the past I have enjoyed a burger or  two at Hard Rock Ca...

Fit Friday Series

The above photo was taken from the menu at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. In the past I have enjoyed a burger or  two at Hard Rock Cafe, but never did I see the calorie count beside the food item! Thank You Mayor Bloomberg! Look, this guy has taken some hard criticism on being the "food police", but someone HAS to do the job! I had NO IDEA this place unloads a burger on your plate that packs well over 1,000 calories. Most burgers had my calorie quota for the day or just about my quota for the day! The calorie count in the above photo is 2,805 cal and is only a member of the appetizer lineup. The item below (as you can see) has 2,047 cal and is also an appetizer. Now let's say Jeff did not have to be gluten free, that is still too many calories to split between two people. So Fit Friday lovers? What did we do? Jeff had a steak and could only eat half! The mashed potatoes had too much garlic, his steak was dry and lacked flavor. I asked for a grilled chicken breast that arrived pink and tasted like smoke! Needless to say we did not pay for the entire meal thanks to our waitress. So, here's the warning: Don't eat there, the food is terrible and overpriced, if you do eat somewhere like that do as I did: request your own items a la carte. The restaurant will more than likely be willing to meet your request. Ask for iced tea as a drink, order it unsweet and then you can lightly sweeten yourself. I suggest tea over water because I have a hangup about drinking tap water. Sorry, it's a thing I have! So, just run around and shop all you want, travel if you will and above all Stay Fit!

East Coast Flair: Thanksgiving Day in NYC

East Coast Flair: Thanksgiving Day in NYC: Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and this finds you doing well and looking forward to the holiday season. This was our sec...

Thanksgiving Day in NYC



Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and this finds you doing well and looking forward to the holiday season. This was our second time being out of town for Thanksgiving Day and once again it did not disappoint! We had a terrific time! We went into the city to watch the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade but put a few sight seeing ventures on our list while visiting. New York does NOT shut down for Thanksgiving Day, let me tell you. Everything was more or less running full stream like a regular day, but I guess they don't want to disappoint all the visitors. Even during the parade (which I will admit we did not watch the whole thing) people were buzzing about TImes Square and touring as usual. Shops were open for business and consumers were spending. I was stunned! I figured IF ANYTHING we could just walk and look around a bit, but nothing would be OPEN! Not New York! They just don't slow down for anything I suppose! The photos posted from top are as follows: People skating the rink at Rockefellar Center, Crowds bustling about Times Square during the parade (after the parade MORE people came!), and people taking in the sights of Rockefellar Plaza.


Friday, November 16, 2012

East Coast Flair: Fit Friday

East Coast Flair: Fit Friday: Ok for todays series we will discuss butter. You know how I preach about the ingredient list on your foods? Well, butter is a good place...

East Coast Flair: Fit Friday

East Coast Flair: Fit Friday: Ok for todays series we will discuss butter. You know how I preach about the ingredient list on your foods? Well, butter is a good place...

Fit Friday



Ok for todays series we will discuss butter. You know how I preach about the ingredient list on your foods? Well, butter is a good place to start and a PERFECT example of what I am talking about. I wont drop names but most widely sold big name spreads and sticks have ingredients in them that are far cry of butter and what you need to have butter. Pay a bit more for the butter and rid yourself of monopoly-what the heck am I reading stuff!!! Dig around in the butter section, it takes time but you will change brands, taste more flavor and thank me for getting the chemicals and poison from your refrigerator. Oh yes, keep salted and unsalted varieties in stick form. Most recipes call for unsalted butter. Now, make that grocery list and when you arrive with your cart take your time to- READ THE LABELS! Have a great Friday everyone.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

East Coast Flair: Take time out to help one another.

East Coast Flair: Take time out to help one another.: Hello Everyone! I know we get sick of the shameless sales push this time of year but supporting a charity is something I hope you don't mi...

Take time out to help one another.

Hello Everyone! I know we get sick of the shameless sales push this time of year but supporting a charity is something I hope you don't mind me mentioning today. Above is the logo for one of our favorite charities. Many need our help all year round, but at this time of year organizations push harder for donations for various reasons. Allow me this one favor, before doing your holiday shopping this year sit down with your family and discuss what's important and where you'd like to help make a difference before 2012 comes to an end. Without our help many things could not be accomplished on a daily basis. I know you will have gifts under the tree, but feel good on the inside knowing your family gave an extra special gift this year!

Friday, November 9, 2012

East Coast Flair: Fit Friday Series

East Coast Flair: Fit Friday Series: Hello! It's Fit Friday and you know what that means! You're setting yourself up for a fitabulous weekend. So today I was thinking about the ...

Fit Friday Series

Hello! It's Fit Friday and you know what that means! You're setting yourself up for a fitabulous weekend. So today I was thinking about the fit posts in the past and realized that so many of you face the same problems when on the go. How do I eat and what do I eat when on the go? At the mall and my only option is the Foodcourt. All the travel that is about to take place and maybe you want to know what to pack or what you should buy. Foodcourts are easy, I give a full ok to Subway and Chick Fil A.  You can enjoy the large Chicken Noodle soup at Chick Fil A for around 240 calories and a 12 count nugget is a mere 400 calories. Here is a link to check out the nutrition info yourselves (I will warn you that Chick Fil A website was having issues the day I wrote this.)                                        http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Food/Menu
http://www.subway.com/nutrition/nutritionlist.aspx
Don't be afraid of the salads at Subway; they are delicious and quite filling.
Below I show some photos of snack friendly products that are staples in our pantry. Not only are the serving sizes 200 calories or below on these products, they are all natural, gluten free and you CAN pronounce the ingredient list. Honestly, I know I sound like a broken record, but the LEAST amount of ingredients and your ability to pronounce what is in your food is KEY to weight loss goals.







Friday, November 2, 2012

East Coast Flair: Fit Friday

East Coast Flair: Fit Friday: Oh no! The red cups have arrived at Starbucks and with that my beloved Gingerbread Latte! Oh well, I just need to continue my workouts a...

Fit Friday



Oh no! The red cups have arrived at Starbucks and with that my beloved Gingerbread Latte! Oh well, I just need to continue my workouts and make room to have my occasional favorite drink. So... we are approaching another weekend and need to still burn baby burn!!! For the majority of East Coasters we have an array of activities outside the home to work off weight and do a good deed. For those hit by Sandy you can help shovel snow (if you are in the Appalachian mountain area). For my true East Coasters (you all know you have a special place in my heart) oh my, so much to be done! Here's a list to get you started: cleaning up debris, working in a shelter, checking on your friends, neighbors and loved ones. Drink plenty of clean water, stay warm, look out for one another and take care!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

East Coast Flair: Thoughts and Prayers

East Coast Flair: Thoughts and Prayers: Today I am writing my post with a bit of a heavy heart. As you know Hurricane Sandy came up the coast and turned world's upside down. My ...

Thoughts and Prayers


Today I am writing my post with a bit of a heavy heart. As you know Hurricane Sandy came up the coast and turned world's upside down. My husband made it through the storm safely and so did our home in New Jersey, most people I know survived Sandy also. With a storm like this so many people have been effected in ways that are unimaginable at this time. My hats go off to all electric company linemen, first responders, neighborhood heroes, and all that have stepped up from the norm to bring some normalcy back into the lives of those hit by the storm. Continue to pray and if you cannot get to an area of devastation just know the American Red Cross does accept donations.  I am providing you  with the link so you can feel free to donate to the recovery and thanks so much for thoughts and prayers for me and my family at this time. http://redcross.org