Product Review—Stashers—Reusable Storage Bags

Isn’t it fun to discover great new products? I love being able to explore new products that better fit our healthy lifestyle. Stashers are just such a product. They are a reusable silicone storage envelope you can use for a variety of foods and other items you store in containers.

Stashers come in many colors and sizes.  These handy items come in fun colors so you can suit your fancy or buy specific colors and sizes for specific uses. The envelopes that stand up are really handy for food storage, especially leftovers with sauce.

These storage containers are infinitely handy. Stashers can be used and stored at room temperature, in hot water for sous vide, in the refrigerator and even in the freezer. You can easily put them in the microwave too to heat up what is inside. They are endlessly portable with a great seal. These handy storage envelopes are perfect for taking your lunch to work, organizing a picnic, or carrying snacks for the kids.

Stashers can be used over and over again. This means they are very earth-friendly. They are easy to clean in the dishwasher. And I love that I am not using or throwing away ziplock bags anymore…I just don’t need them.

Stashers and Livliga are great products to use together. They both are eco-friendly and are manufactured with the purpose of making the world we live in better and healthier. They are BPA-free and completely plastic free so no worries about contributing more mounds of non-degradable materials to the garbage heap.

Plus Livliga and Stashers are easy to use, well made to last a long time, and attractive. You also have choice of colors and designs. You are going to like them so much you are going to end up giving them as gifts…I have!

 

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People are Lovin’ their LivSpoons!

Over the holidays many people sent me photos of them in action “Lovin’ their LivSpoons”. This is so exciting to see and now I want to share with you all the reasons people are loving them.

LivSpoons Make Serving Up Food Easy

They make fixing breakfast in the morning super easy. The ½ cup LivSpoon® measures the coffee for the coffee press and the 1 cup LivSpoon measures out the right amount of oatmeal.

You can’t beat the “flawless” way a LivSpoon measures the batter for making waffles and also makes it a whole lot less messy than it used to be with the gooey measuring cup I used to use that was such a hassle to clean up!

So great for serving up soups and stews. Over the holidays with all the family and friends its great to have a pot of chili or soup on the stove ready to serve up. Using a LivSpoon makes it inviting and available for everyone.

Serving up salad dressings and sauces is now a breeze with the smallest LivSpoon. I can’t imagine how I ever served them up before! Its so convenient and works on many different bowls, tureens and gravy boats.

I love the way the LivSpoon makes my starches look. The ½ cup rounded serving of rice, grains or potatoes looks so pretty on my plate. The food just looks that much more appealing.

Anything I have to measure is now made easier with my LivSpoons. They are really a cool and unique design. I also like the way it fits in my hand!

There is even someone who uses a LivSpoon to serve up their dog food. They love using the ¾ cup to measure out their dog’s food. They noted the LivSpoon is durable and that with the handle on them it makes it easy to reach down and scoop out the right amount of food for their beloved pet.

Other people mentioned how they like the LivSpoons because they:

• make filling muffin tins with batter so easy
• serve up peas quick and easy and less eventfully (they used to roll off serving spoons and scattered)
• makes baking and measuring so much more fun and effortless
• are so much more attractive to use at the table when serving up portioned food
• are the first spoon that measures a single serving of peanut in one scoop
• allow me to measure my food in front of other people without making it a big deal or obvious
• feel so comfortable in the hand

It is so great to hear about so many ways people are “lovin’ their LivSpoons”. The LivSpoon is the most recent elegant portion control product to be launched by Livliga.

The LivSpoon®, in addition to our other Livliga tableware, is the latest tool to help you control your food environment in an elegant and subtle way.

Happy New Year! Here’s to your happiest and healthiest New Year yet!

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Loving My New Gadget—Electric Tea Kettle

My Electric Tea Kettle Makes My Morning Coffee Brewing Routine a Breeze

It is amazing how some of the simplest gadgets can be the most used and loved. Quite honestly, I don’t know how, or why, for that matter, I have lived without an electric tea kettle for so long. It took a dear friend giving me one for me to discover what an everyday godsend it is.

Electric Tea Kettles are the perfect solution for instant gratification. They heat water up so quickly you don’t have to wait long for making your morning coffee, as we do, in a French press or your green tea or hot cocoa on a cold day. Making jello is now a breeze.

I also like the electric tea kettle because it doesn’t take up space on my stove. When you cook regularly it seems the tea kettle is always in the way and getting splattered on the stove top. Now with our electric tea kettle I no longer have to worry about the hassle of the stove top tea kettle.

The Electric Tea Kettle we have is by Cuisinart. It is cordless which means the kettle can be picked up and moved free of the cord because the cord is attached to a base. This is very handy. It also has multiple settings for degrees of heating. You don’t always want or need your water to boil when you want heated water. For instance there are multiple settings for types of tea, one for coffee as well as one for getting your water to a hard boil. I love this feature because you get what you need and you don’t have to wait for water to get to a true boil unless need it to. The only time I need a hard boil is when I make jello. Additionally, it stays heated for quite a while, shuts off automatically and has a feature to turn off if the pot runs dry. Cuisinart provides a multi-year warranty as well. It is a great Electric tea kettle.

If you are looking for a great gift for someone who needs ways to make their life a little easier and faster, whether they are cooks or not, an electric tea kettle could be just the perfect gift. If you don’t already have one, it could be the ideal gift for you too. I now have one at home and at work.

For a Healthy Gift ensemble idea: include a set of Livliga right-sized mugs, in your preferred pattern, to enjoy freshly made hot beverages. 


 

Enjoy! And Live Vibrant!

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2014 Healthy Lifestyle Holiday Gift Ideas

There is nothing more meaningful than giving the Gift of Health. Check out these Healthy Lifestyle Holiday Gifts to complete your list (photo by LivligaHome.com)

This is a fun time of year when we can dream of the gifts we would like to receive as well as those gifts we would like to give. There are so many possibilities. As I have focused more and more on healthy living I have come to realize that the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and those we love is a Gift of Health. I have compiled a list of kitchen gear, gadgets, apps, movies and books that have helped me in living a healthier lifestyle.

Some gifts help us prepare and cook fresh food. Others help us with providing us with advice and information so we can continue to make better decisions about the food we eat. For those seeking motivation in the area of increasing daily activity there are gifts to help us out in ramping up and sustaining our exercise routine. Then there are the gifts I list that help people get started with their journey of weight loss and/or living a healthier life. I call them the “wake up call” gifts. The great thing about gift giving this time of year is that the New Year is right around the corner so some gifts can be a “set up” for getting in gear next year.

Here is my list of Gifts of Health to consider:

Kitchen and Dining

Rotisserie for the grill ($39.96)

Nothing is easier, tastes better or prepares food so healthily.

French Press Thermos ($49.95)

Keeps freshly brewed coffee hot longer without waste or using any electricity-a great earth friendly gift.

Livliga Mugs ($48.00)

To go a long with the French Press Thermos are artist-designed, right-sized mugs with discrete 8 ounce fill lines; made of porcelain- also earth-friendly.

Livliga Wine glasses ($49.95)

These glasses with 2 discrete fill lines, at 4 ounces and 6 ounces, were 2014 Martha Stewart Made in America Finalists; a great gift of health that can be used all year.

Healthy Cookbooks

My current go to favorite is: fresh food fast: 24/7 by Cooking Light ($17.71).

Cooks Illustrated ($24.95)

A magazine subscription for those who are really into developing cooking skills and knowledge.

Gadgets

Scosche Heart monitor ($79.95)

My sons gave me a Scosche Rhythm arm heart monitor for my birthday that integrates with apps like Wahoo to show you real time results as you strive to optimize your workouts. This is a monitor that doesn’t have to go around your chest, which is a huge improvement for those who are big chested or wear wire bras. I really love mine.

Flex Belt ($199.99)

This is not a miracle machine but it can add to your results in slimming your waist and torso. It has the added benefit of being effortless to use. You can go about your daily routine using it.

Apps

Thyme-Kitchen Timer

A timer for cooking. A great app on your phone to help you set timers for multiple things you have cooking. It helps you keep track and can go where you go. FREE

The Snack App

This app helps you pre-plan your snacks. It also helps you figure out best options when you are at work or traveling and need to come up with healthy options on the go. FREE

MapMyTrax

This is an app that keeps track of your movement and route when you are running, cycling or being otherwise outdoorsy. FREE

Movies

Fed Up ($9.96)

This is an eye-opening movie about the consequences of refined sugar, which is pervasive in our diets, overall eating too much and the social consequences of our super sized world. It was produced by Katie Couric and is very informative.

Books

Slim by Design by Brian Wansink ($16.67)

This is the latest book by Brian Wansink. I have been a great advocate his work ever since I read his book Mindless Eating. He provides a very different approach to helping us take control of our eating through environmental changes we can make. His recommendations are based on the scientific research he has done.

The Portion Teller Plan by Lisa Young ($11.33)

It is amazing how we have no idea what a right sized portion for any given food looks like. This book is a very practical guide to “right sizing” our eyes.

Children’s Gifts

Sammie and Sax in the Land of Quinoa: TheSearch for a Balanced Meal ($17.95)

This is a fun, beautifully illustrated, interactive children’s book ideal for ages 4-8.

Kidliga: Sammie and Sax 3 pc portion controlplace setting ($49.95)

This is a place setting with portion control built in using the characters from the book. Subtle, fun and effective.

Sammie and Sax tabletop puzzle ($17.95)

Looking for something fun for the kids to do when they are hanging out that might subtle reinforce healthy eating habits? This puzzle provides just that.

For more gift ideas click here.

Happy Healthy Holidays!  May you give and get the Gifts of Health! 

This article was orginally published in the Epoch Times.

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Product Review-- The Flex Belt

Flex Belt Product Review (photo by LivligaHome)

This is a big year for me. It is the year of my 40^th high school reunion. It is hard to believe but it is really here and I plan to attend. So when I was contacted by Flex Belt to receive one of their belts to test out I thought the timing was great. What could it hurt? And with luck, it might just help!

Can it be effectively used by those of us who are overweight? One concern I had that I communicated up front is that I am not a skinny woman. I may have lost almost 60 pounds but I am not a small woman. They have accommodated for this with an extension piece to attach to the belt. 

Honestly, I wondered how the belt would do on a person like me who is big, with a layer of fat around my middle.  Would the toning system be strong enough to make a difference? It seemed like a good question I could personally research and experience to share with others.

How might it affect those with IBS? Another area of concern I had was whether the stimulation of the belt might trigger my IBS. The first couple of times I used the belt I did have uncomfortable twinges after finishing the session. I wondered if it would escalate into an “episode” but it never did. This is meant to be a caution alert for those who may have severe cases of IBS; talk to your doctor first. But it was a relief for me that I could use the belt without negative consequences.

How easy is it to use? When I received the Flex Belt I was impressed with its packaging. It is attractive and the information provided is clear. There is a little assembly required to attach the control unit and the gel pads to the belt but nothing is difficult to do.

Once I assembled the necessary pieces I then tried on the belt. The gel pads make it cool to put on. And the belt is stretchy enough I didn’t end up needing to add the belt extension. Next I had to figure out the settings. There are many. There are a number of different programs you can choose from. They recommend you start with #1. Then you can adjust the amount of time the belt is on. That starts at 20 minutes. Then you can adjust the intensity. It can range from 1 to 150. They recommend you get up to 15 during your first session. Then they recommend you use the belt at least three times a week or up to five times, if you can manage it.

All of this was very manageable. It was actually fun to play with the different levels of intensity. They provide a booklet with the Flex Belt. You can record the days you use the belt and the programs and intensity you choose. This made it very easy to keep track of what I was doing.

What kind of results do you see? I was great at using the belt 3 to 4 times each week for the first 3 weeks. Then I started traveling and my consistency of use faded. While I used it I did feel a difference. I measured my waist at the beginning and after two weeks my waist had shrunk by ½ inch. Regrettably, after the hiatus my waist went back to its former circumference. But I did see it made a difference and with longer-term use I suspect I would have more impressive results. What has remained is the improved muscle tone. I do sit ups and can now do more with ease.

So what do I really think? I liked the quality of the product. I saw results. The results were such that it has motivated me to want to use it for longer and more intensely to see how far I can go to maximize overall results.

As a product by itself it is not a panacea but as part of an overall healthy lifestyle plan it is a good addition. It is pretty effortless but plays an important role in reminding us about the steps we need to take to live a healthy life. Anyway we can keep reminding ourselves throughout the day how to live vibrant and be healthy is a good thing. And you do also get results!

The Flex Belt is one more tool for our Healthy Lifestyle Tool Chest by helping us stay focused on the ultimate goal to be healthy and live life to its fullest.

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The Raging Fitbit Controversy

There is a growing controversy surrounding the Fitbit (photo by LivligaHome)

The Fitbit Controversy appears to be escalating. How serious is it? I thought it was time to do some research. Now you can decide.

For those of you who have maybe heard something in the news about this thing called a “Fitbit” but haven’t a clue what it is, simply put, it is an activity tracker you wear that monitors your movement and sleep as well as counts your calories burned. Additionally, the online app allows you to enter your food consumption, which helps count your calories, and water intake as well as any other activity you want to log that wasn’t tracked by the Fitbit.

Fitbit has been in the news a lot recently.  It hasn’t been very positive. First there was the controversy surrounding the people who have developed rashes where they wore their Fitbit. Then there was the rather embarrassing discovery that Fitbits track everything, including your sex life. Others are reporting that some people using the Fitbit have become obsessed with tracking their movements and logging more steps to beat out their friends or to meet a new goal to the detriment of their social life.
According to a recent article, the controversy surrounding the skin rash seems to be more prevalent for those who have worn the wrist tracker. It is a very real issue.  A person wears it for a few weeks without incident, and, after recharging it a few times, notices redness under the main part of the device.  According to reports, the skin rash may be due to a metal allergy. The stainless steel casing has traces of nickel that is a known skin irritator. Fitbit has responded that it is working to rectify the problem.

The more amusing, yet embarrassing controversy, is that the more recent versions of Fitbit, the ones you wear when you sleep, also track your sex life.  This is not so much a problem if you are not sharing your information with others online but if you are part of a community on line or have a list of friends and family you share your tracker information with, you may be sharing more than you realized. In fact, I recently had a conversation with an acquaintance who recounted the mortifying story about how she shares her Fitbit information with her father. They decided to get fit together so they share their activity. Well on a recent Saturday night she was with her boyfriend and they had sex late at night. The next morning her father asked her what the heck she was doing working out in the middle of the night. Oops…The Fitbit charts your activity throughout the day and shows what times of day, by hour, you are active. Moral of this story? Take your Fitbit off before you have sex.
Finally, more and more stories are cropping up telling tales of people being so obsessed with their Fitbits and tracking their movements that it is messing with their relationships and the other parts of their life. There are stories of people jogging in restrooms to get their steps in or being late to a meeting because they had to walk to the meeting despite the distance. Or there are those who have to win at any cost to log more steps than their friends or husband, even if it means staying up half the night. There are many such stories you can find in the blogosphere. It is clear, if you tend to have an obsessive-compulsive personality, the Fitbit can become the obsession.

So here is my take on the Fitbit Controversy. But first my confession, I am a Fitbit user. I have been for three years. I love it. In reality, I have not been a constant user over the three years. I will wear it regularly for a period of time but then forget it on a piece of clothing until I find it again. That was until my husband started wearing his Fitbit constantly. Then I started wearing mine constantly. I have the clip-on Fitbit that I slide on to my bra. Once I discovered clipping it to my bra I have never had a problem losing it. Fortunately in three years it has also never irritated my skin. Since I leave it on my bra, I do not wear it to bed. Two of my three children are Fitbit friends, along with my husband, so this is a very good thing. I have been known to jog in the bathroom. I do park further away when I go to meetings to get more steps in but I haven’t yet been late because of it. I am a little obsessed but I think it is fun. I would much rather be obsessed with my activity and movement, motivating others to do the same, than to be obsessed with something less healthy, like watching TV.  Three years ago I lost 50 pounds. With the help of the Fitbit I have kept it off.

We live in a sedentary society where so much of our lives is spent sitting. The Fitbit is a great tool to help us get up and moving while making it fun. As a tool we need to be aware of its foibles. It does need to be safe for people to use so Fitbit needs to come up with a solution to the skin irritation users can experience.  There is something wonderful about more and more people out there working on getting to their ten thousand steps each day. May we all be slightly obsessed friends on the same journey.

Re-posted from Sheila's Blog on TheEpochTimes.com.  

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The Miracle of Turning Veggies into Pasta

Veggie Pasta Made Wit My New Spiral Slicer (photo by LivligaHome)

We just eat too many carbohydrates. I have been re-reading parts of the State of Slim book by Dr. Jim Hill and Holly Wyatt and it has reminded me that just about everything we eat, including fruits and vegetables have carbohydrates. The reality is that there are "good" carbs and "bad" carbs. Not all carbs are made a like. Bad carbs are those we eat from highly processed and highly refined foods. These are the ones we crave, can't get enough of and never feel satisfied from. These are the cookies, candies, donuts and cakes we often find ourselves eating everyday. It is our addiction. It also includes pasta.

I realized I needed to actively work on limiting the bad carbs in my diet. Instead of craving something that truly never satisfies me, and easily adds pounds to my body, I thought I would start looking around for alternatives. It is amazing how many there are that are attractive, tasty and filling...all the ingredients needed to ultimately feel satisfied at the end of a meal.

The first experiment was with pasta. A dear friend of mine introduced me to a way to make pasta from vegetables. He has diabetes and needed to find ways to eliminate the carbs in his diet which has led him to discover some wonderful ways to cook fresh, whole foods. Vegetable pasta is actually really cool to make. You need a spiral slicer. The one he recommended is a Paderno Spiral Vegetable Slicer which you can get on Amazon.

Paderno Spiral Vegetable Slicer Needed to Make The Vegetable Pasta (photo by LivligaHome)

Our first experiment was to spiral slice carrots and zucchini. The recipe I used was from the State of Slim book. It called for carrots, zucchini and asparagus. The carrots and zucchini both worked well in the spiral slicer. The asparagus had to be sliced with a vegetable peeler. It looked beautiful.

The vegetable pasta cooked in a flash( you blanch for 3 minutes max.) and stayed bright and colorful, as you can see in the photo above. Not only is it very colorful but it also tastes sweet. For those who don't like zucchini much, like my daughter, this is a great way to rediscover this vegetable.

To complete the pasta dish you mix the blanched veggie with ½ cup low fat store bought marinara sauce and then top with 4 ounces of cooked boneless & skinless chicken breast. Super easy and very delicious. It also seems like a lot to eat. A good meal when you know you are going to be really hungry, since it fills you up well. A definite repeat. We are also looking forward to experimenting with other vegetables, especially the root vegetables like rutabaga, parsnip and turnip. Any others we should try? We are willing guinea pigs!

Enjoy! And Live Vibrant!

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Healthy Gifts for the Holidays!

Healthy Gifts for the Holdays the Greatest of Gifts (photo by LivligaHome)

It is very interesting to me that so many people think it is contrary to gift giving to give healthy gifts for the holidays. Somehow there is this myth that by giving someone something for their good health we will be affronting or offending them. To me the greatest gift we can give someone is a gift supporting and promoting his or her good health. Click here to read the entire article...


Re-posted from Sheila's Blog on TheEpochTimes.com

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To Weigh or Not to Weigh...that is the question...

There is a lot of preference and passion around the topic of how frequently people should weigh themselves. The range has extremes from "never" weighing yourself to weighing yourself twice a day- at the beginning and end of the day. What should it be?

I have learned over the years that managing my weight requires that I be mindful of it. When I start avoiding the scale it is a sure sign I am not paying attention to what I am eating either. Through self assessment and awareness I have come to understand that I need concrete feedback to know how I am doing in managing my food intake and exercise. I don't seem to have the built in mechanisms others have in innately knowing. Or, more truthfully, I may have it but don't listen to it without other tangible evidence.

Weighing keeps me honest. I have found it is better for me to weigh everyday in order to keep on track. It also keeps me mindful. It provides me the concrete feedback on how much I am eating, whether I am making the right choices and/or whether I need to rein in my consummation. And it makes me understand how important it is to exercise. When I slack off on going to the gym, the pounds start to creep back.

Standing on the scale daily is a way for me to be committed to keeping the pounds off. It keeps my awareness focused on what it takes to be healthy. It is a daily deal.

I found a great website that addresses this issue as well- Fit to the Finish. The author, Diane, sites some studies that show that those who weigh daily actually lose more weight. It makes sense to me. How about you?

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Loving My New Gadgets!--Cookie Scoop

1 Tablespoon Cookie Scoop

When I started baking healthier cookies, one of the things I discovered was measuring out the dough to a right-sized portion. In a chocolate chip cookie recipe from Cooking Light, it instructed me to drop the cookie dough in 1 tablespoon measurements. At first I used my 1 tablespoon measuring spoon. It was laborious and not very easy. I decided I needed to look for a small version of an ice cream scoop.

Turns out if you go to a culinary store, like William Sonoma or Sur La Table there are actually cookie scoops in different sizes! I found my 1 tablespoon scoop and have been using it ever since. It is so easy. I can whip through a recipe in no time flat. It makes prettier cookies, too. They are much more uniform. Some how right-sized, visually appealing cookies are much more satisfying...and the calorie count is much more reasonable.  I recommend you get your own 1 tablespoon cookie scoop! Then we can swap cookie recipes. What fun!

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Loving My New Gadgets!- The Corkcicle

I have seen commercials and articles about the Corkcicle and always wondered if they worked. It seemed so handy and easy- my two favorite attributes when it comes to kitchen gadgets. Well my husband surprised me with a Corkcicle gift over the holidays. Now I could try it out for myself!

It is easy to fit in the freezer. It freezes quickly. It has no problem fitting in all variety of wine bottles. It does keep the wine cool. I like the fact that it makes the wine portable so we can move outside of the kitchen and take the bottle of wine where we are and still have it remain cool. It also makes it easier for guests to feel comfortable serving themselves since it can be next to the wine classes and not tucked somewhere in a less than ideal spot in the refrigerator. And for those who mainly drink red wine it touts keeping it at the ideal temperature as well. A new gadget that is handy, easy and fun!

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Loving My New Gadgets!- The Perfect Peeler

Cooking takes time. Prepping foods for a recipe is what takes the most time. I am always looking for ways to make me more efficient in the kitchen. Having utensils that work well and are easy to handle is key. Knowing this, my husband treated me to The Perfect Peeler at Christmas.

As you can see by the photos, it is easy to handle and glides well as you peel. You can change the angle on the blade which is helpful depending on what you are peeling. It is also nice and sharp thanks to the ceramic blade. I did try it on a block of Parmesan and the blade popped off. It didn't break, thank goodness, but it clearly is made for peeling vegetables and not shaving hard blocks of cheese! I definitely like this new gadget!

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Loving My New Gadgets!-Chef iPad Stand

There is nothing better in the New Year than trying out a gadget you got for a gift over the holidays. A gift I got, which I have really wanted, was an iPad Stand for the kitchen. My husband did some research and surprised me with a Belkin Tablet Chef Stand & Stylus. For less than $30 you get a handy stand and stylus. The stylus is important so you can touch the screen of the iPad when you are in the midst of cooking and have messy hands. The iPad stays clean and the stylus is made to be cleaned.

The Chef iPad Stand makes me feel very "with it". I think my children even made noises of admiration when they saw me unwrap this gift. What I like is that it doesn't take up too much space on the counter top, a lot less space, in fact, than my recipe notebook. I like trying out new recipes each week, some of which I may never repeat, so to be able to use my iPad and not go to the hassle and waste of printing out a recipe is really appealing to me. A lot "greener" way to enjoy trying new things.

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Loving My New Gadgets!- Popcorn Popper

My husband loves to give me new gadgets for Christmas. Sometimes I think ahead and ask for specific items that I know I want. This year I knew I wanted a popcorn popper. Of course it is one that air pops so there is no oil or added calories involved in the popping! He did some research and decided on the Cuisinart CPM-100 EasyPop Hot Air Popcorn Maker. 

I love it! For less than $40 on Amazon it is a great buy to provide for a super healthy snack. 3 tablespoons of unpopped corn is 120 calories and makes about 6 cups of popcorn. A great afternoon snack.

And as I wrote about previously in my blog- Popcorn-even healthier than we thought!- popcorn is loaded with antioxidants and fiber so it is a very healthy snack to choose. It is also reasonable in calories for a sizable quantity. When I am ravenously hungry in the late afternoon a bowl of popcorn fills me up and keeps me from making bad choices because all that knoshing on the kernels is really satisfying. We have already enjoyed a number of  bowls of popcorn in The New Year since the whole family loves it as a snack!

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Fitbit Mania

One of my sons got a Fitbit from his office for an end-of-the-year holiday gift. Then he was so excited about it he gave a Fitbit to his older brother for Christmas. Last year my sons gave me the first Fitbit among the family which I wrote about in a previous blog. I was very motivated at first but then, as is our habit, I got out of the habit. Another loner pursuit that went by the wayside.

Now I have a team supporting me and competing amongst each other. We can see each other's activity on line which is particularly cool since we live across the country from each other. I for one am highly motivated to find a week where I can out step both of my sons! Even my husband is now in on it. This may have something to do with the fact our sons gave us the Fitbit Aria WiFi Smart Scale. It really is awesome as it syncs with the FitBit website so it tracks each time you weigh and shows it to you over time and compared to the goals you have set. You can share this information with others as well. I have not yet had the courage to do so. So far I am just sharing my activity. All my activity and weight and calories can be logged, much of it automatically, so I have my personal view of my commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

The two things I like the most currently is that I can input and save my own calories according to the meals and recipes I use so the calories map to my meal plans. I also like that it compares "Calories In to Calories Out". I have a concrete, visual picture of how my exercize and food intake relate. A very powerful tool. I am looking forward to downloading the app so I can use it on the road and when I am out and about eating.

As I mentioned in my New Year's Resolution blog, this is my year for Keeping On Track. The Fitbit, Fitbit Scale and Fitbit App are going to be great tools to help me do just that!
My family is my team and community supporting me every step and bite along the way.

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