Greetings!  

It's winter!  It sure is beautiful the first time that it snows each year.  What a miracle it is.  Every single snow flake is different...have you had a chance to take a look at a snow flake recently?  It is truly amazing that such beautiful crystals fall from the sky.  I would not be sad if this first snowfall was also our last :), but if you really think about it, it is amazing and beautiful.  Our world is incredible!

Chris and I got out and scooped the drive way this morning before we went to the gym.  It was so peaceful and it was a great way to burn some calories and start my day off with a different kind of exercise.  Get outside today and scoop off your walk or drive way.  Play with your kids in the snow.  Be active and get your exercise in different ways this weekend. 

If you are craving some hot chocolate when you come in, try making it with your protein powder.  The water cannot be too hot or else the protein will coagulate.  Make the water just hot enough that it doesn't burn your tongue when you drink it, then stir in a scoop of protein.  It will be a true treat on a cold day, and it won't leave you craving more sugar later.  You can also stir a scoop of protein into your coffee and make a healthy "mocha latte" at home.  Much better for you and less expensive than the one that you will buy at the coffee shop.

I read another tip to help us not over indulge this time of year the other day.  Use your non-dominant hand to hold your fork when you are eating.  I have been doing this the past few days and it really works.  I eat so much slower.  I also found that I tasted and enjoyed the food that I was eating much more.  I was also more satisfied when I finished eating.  I am sure it was because I gave my brain the time that it needed to get the message from my stomach that I had eaten. 

Using chop sticks works just like this.  You have to take smaller bites and you have to work harder to eat.  Both of these tips also helps prevent Alzheimer's Disease.  Just like the reverse walking lunges in class made you smarter, so does using your other hand to eat or using chopsticks.  When you do new tasks your brain is stimulated and that makes more blood flow to the part of the brain that is working.  The more blood flow we get to all areas of our brains, the better and the less risk we will have as we get older to forget things.  Aren't I so great?  I not only give you a perkier behind and smaller jeans, but also I make you smarter!!  :) 

We will have out first weigh in for the current "No Gain" competition on Monday and Tuesday.  How are you doing with your holiday eating?  I have been doing well.  My goal jeans still fit which is very encouraging.  As long as I don't keep my temptations in the house, I do great.  I even passed up fresh baked chocolate chip cookies yesterday and managed not to eat any of the dozen that were sitting in the kitchen.  I thought of how I would feel after eating them, and I decided that the guilt and the frustration was not worth it.  I want to stay in my jeans, and I want to see the right number on the scale when I weigh in on Monday.  I am right there with you for this competition.  I am not going to gain over the holidays either! 

If you find that you are having trouble passing up the treats this time of year, don't keep them or bring them in your house.  Make your home a "healthy zone."  Tell you family and your friends that you are not having junk in your house over the holidays.  We all know that there are enough temptations outside the house with holiday parties, dinners out with friends, work functions and gifts, sugar coated almonds at the mall, and the list could go on and on...  Make sure you are safe from the temptations in your own house.  You cannot always control what your choices are when you are out, but at home, you get to decide.  Your body will thank you!

I have decided to do a special New Year's Day workout for us to kick off the new year right!  On January 1, 2011, we will be having our first Saturday workout of the NEW YEAR!!!  We will be meeting at 8 AM at Gymnastics, Etc.  We will reaffirm our goals so that we are starting the new year on a healthy note.  Make your goal to be getting into the best shape of your life in 2011.  You can do it.