Resisting Temptation

With all the holiday treats being made at my house this week it has been hard to resist just gorging myself on them! I myself have made cookies, fudge, caramels and other sweets (Yes, I know.. I'm being a hypocrite!) but that doesn't mean I have to eat it all! I allow myself to have a small portion of a treat, and I make sure that I get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day! But, I do find it hard to stop at just one cookie, one small piece of fudge or a small bite of caramel, so what do you do? How do you resist the urge to replace every meal with sugary sweets? Here are a few tips that I use and have found helpful!

#1 Portion control.
As stated before, keeping an eye on the size and amount of treats you consume is important. Its also important that you don't feel deprived from your favorite foods. Let yourself have a small bite or serving, but stop there. Your future self will thank you!

#2 Drinking Water.
I have stressed this in other post, but I will say it again! Not drinking enough water can make you feel hungry and can cause you to have a little more than you planned, food-wise. I try to have a large glass of water with every meal and one every hour or so. If you are out and about, carry water with you either in a water bottle or a cute cup!

#3 Activity!
Getting moving for at least 30 minutes a day is a must. It will keep you from eating because you are bored and it can be made fun!

#4 Healthy Foods.
Make sure there is a large variety of healthy foods for you to snack on instead of the sugary ones! I love to have fresh fruit and veggies already to enjoy any time!

#5 Enjoy
Make sure you aren't mindlessly eating your treats as you do something else. Keep your mind on the item you are eating and make sure to enjoy it so you don't have to get another one!

#6 Creativity
You can get so creative with the different healthy winter treat! I have made several cookies, treats and drinks that are healthy but delicious. Let me know what healthy winter treats you enjoy!

Well that it! I know it is similar to other post I have posted, but this is a struggle that I almost constantly have during the winter and I wanted to share with you ways that I have found of over coming it!
I won't be posting anymore for a few days because I am on vacation! Yay! So don't expect a post for a little bit (Not too long though)
Keep it healthy and safe!
H.Banana

More Motivation

I've done a motivational post before, and I wanted to do another one! Motivation is key (I can't stress that enough!) and it can be found several places! I like to read motivation quotes and I want to share a few of my favorites with you!

Losing weight is hard. Being fat is hard. Pick your hard.

Suck is up so one day you don't have to suck it in.

It is not about 'having' time, it is about making time

It's not always easy, but it's always worth it

Workout like your life depends on it......because it does.

These came from Pinterest, which is my favorite place to get motivation of all kinds. Remember, motivation isn't something you do here and there, but its an every day thing that you need to succeed in anything!
Keep healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana

Chia Seeds

  Chia seeds have so many health benefits! You can get half the amount of fiber you need in a day in just one ounce of Chia seeds! They also will give you an energy boost, help control your food cravings, lose excess weight, lower cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar levels, improves digestion, reduces inflammation, improves hydration, lower blood pressure, improves sleep, lower risk of heart attack and much more! ( Info from Chia Seeds Health ) .

 With all those benefits, adding them to our diets is a must! But, how do you do that? Its not all that pleasant to just have a spoon full of Chia seeds in the morning. Here are a few ways to add Chia seeds into your diet!

Mix them into oatmeal, yogurt and granola or cereal. You can hardly tell they are there!

I add them to my smoothies and shakes! They blend right up and you can't even see them!

Add to soup to thicken the broth.

You can even use them as an egg substitute! 1 tablespoon Chia seeds to 1/4 cup of water for 1 egg.

Sprinkle on a salad. Rodale News suggest toasting the Chia seeds to give them a nutter flavor!

New Years

  So, New Years is just around the corner and a lot of us are thinking about our New Year's resolutions. Its a great time to 'turn over a new leaf' start fresh or begin something total new! I know for me that there will be several things on that list that were on there last year. I  know that's is sort of a joke about how crowed the gyms are the week after New Years and then the crowd slowly goes away. Its just the thought that a lot of people have trouble sticking to their resolutions no matter what they are! Stay motivated to succeed in what ever your resolutions are and you will have a better chance of sticking to it. For me, this time last year I had the resolution to become healthier, and now looking back I know that I more or less stuck to that. I kept motivated, my family had similar resolutions and I was able to get a lot of information, motivation and inspiration on Pinterest! What are my resolutions? I don't have any 'real' resolutions like 'lose weight', 'go to the gym more', 'get active' or 'save more money' but I do know that I will continue to become healthier, learn more about the health and wellness field, work harder in school , and take the best care of my body that I can!

This post really isn't informational but I just wanted to share a personal post with you guys! I don't know if this will be motivation to any of you, but I wish you all success in this up coming year!

Keep healthy and SAFE!
happy holidays!
H.Banana

Music!

I've done a music post before and here is another one! Music is one of my number one motivators, so I listen to it a lot! Here are  a few of my favorite songs to listen to while I workout!

All I Want For Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
Peppermint Winter by Owl City
Warm Me Up by Elliot Yamen
Santa Baby by Taylor Swift
Silent Night by Celtic Woman
Let it Snow by Michele Buble
Ding Don Merrily on High by Celtic Woman
Hark the Herald Angles Sing by  Celtic Woman

So these are a few basic, traditional songs but there are a few new ones in there too! Let me know what song is your favorite and what gets you motivated to stay active! Please share my blog with a friend and have a happy holiday!

Keep healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana

Staying healthy during the holidays

Lets be honest, its can be hard to stay healthy during the holidays! There is the almost constant temptation of sugary and high calorie foods and then its seems so hard to stay motivated to workout! Here are a few tips that I hope will help us all stay healthy during the holidays!

#1 WATER!
There is often so much going on during the holidays that we forget to drink enough water! Not drinking enough water can cause you to become dehydrated which will make you feel lazy and sluggish. Drinking water ( and the water in hot cocoa, coffee, etc. doesn't count!) will help you feel more energized, give you clearer skin and keep you hydrated!

#2 WORKOUT
Its hard to find time to workout when its cold outside and there is a warm fire to sit by and drink hot cocoa, but its important that you make time! Play some Christmas tunes while you workout, find some Christmas-themed workout moves or find a workout buddy! If you have company and you don't feel like you can leave them to workout, maybe go to the mall ( Shopping is Cardio!) and walk around for an hour or two. Its important that you get moving! Lying around all day will make you feel lazy and lower your motivation level.

#3 INDULGE
Are all those Christmas treats tempting you? Well, live a little and enjoy them...in moderation! Not letting yourself enjoy your favorite treats will make you feel discouraged and deprived. Enjoy those yummy treats a little at a time. Eating one sugar cookie, one candy cane, a cup of cocoa or a piece of fudge won't set you back or make you gain a ton a weight, but loads and loads of them will! Enjoy in moderation and don't worry about it!

#4 VEGGIE-UP!
When is comes to your diet during the holidays, make sure that veggies are present at every meal. As long as they aren't coated in  butter, cheese or grease, make sure that at least half of your plate is full of veggies. You can have the other food items like, ham, bread, scalloped potatoes and cranberry sauce, just make sure your giving some love to the veggies too!

#5 SLEEP
It can be tempting to stay up 'way past your bed time' but its so much better for your body if you make sure you get enough sleep! Sleeping in is a great feeling and, if you stayed up late the night before, let yourself have more sleep, your body will thank you! You will have more energy and motivation if you give your body the rest it needs! Bring on the Zzzzzzzzzs!

I hope these tips can help us all stay healthy and motivated during the holidays! Let me know if these tips help you and if you have any to add to the list! If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with a friend!

Keep healthy and SAFE!
Happy Holidays!
H.Banana

Sunshine Slushy!

This slushy is delicious and healthy at the same time! Its just the right blend of sweet and sour! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Ingredients!

Two clementine oranges (I used the 'cuties' )
Two tbs Lemon Juice
1/2 cup coconut water
Two packets of Truvia
Ice

Peel your oranges and blend them up. If you want to get rid of the pulp, just press them through a strainer.

Then, add the orange juice, lemon juice, truvia and coconut water to the blender and blend together. Don't over blend on this, just enough for it all to get combined!

Then add the ice and blend up until the ice is all crushed and everything is mixed nicely!

 

 

 

You can enjoy it now, or place it in the freezer to firm up and bit! This is so refreshing and delicious that I want to have it everyday! Let me know what you think and please share it with a friend!

Keep healthy and SAFE!

H.Banana

Coffee Slushy!

I love coffee, but after my workout I don't want a hot cup of coffee...I want a coffee slushy! This recipe is super easy and only uses a few ingredients!

Ingredients:
Coffee(Brewed and chilled.) about 1 and a half cup.
Coconut Milk (Or any milk you prefer. Got to your desired taste with this one!)
Truvia (If you want it to be sweet, add this, if not, leave it out!)

Add Truvia and Milk to the coffee and mix together.

Then, add ice and blend away!

Once blended, you can enjoy it right away or pop it in the freezer to get firmer.

 

I hope you enjoyed this super simple, easy and delicious coffee slushy! Its a great way to have a sweet energy boost, with out the sugary calories!

 

Please share with a friend if you have enjoyed this post!

 

Keep healthy and SAFE

H.Banana

"Candied" Pecans

I love candied pecans but all the recipes I found had sugar in it. So, I decided to create my own recipe and share it with you!

Ingredients:
Pecans(Mine had been stored in the freezer)
Truvia (I used 7 packets)
Cinnamon (I used about a tablespoon)

Warm the pecans in a skillet

The, whisk together the cinnamon and Truvia and add it to the skillet

You've got to be quick, they will burn easily!

Place them on a paper-towel and let them cool and dry.

(Mine got a little crispy!)

 

When they are cooled they are ready to enjoy! A handful of these yummy pecans makes a great snack!

Let me know what you thought and please share my blog with a friend!

 

Keep healthy and SAFE!

H.Banana

Ginger!

I have been using Ginger a lot lately in my smoothies as well as baking. I knew it was good for me, but I didn't know exactly why or how good it was for me! Here is some of the benefits of Ginger that I found interesting!

This info came from Bembu .

#1.
Ginger is know to help fight many different cancers. Research has shown that ginger can act to literally obliterate cancer's cells.
#2
IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Ginger is known to spell relief for those suffering from IBS. Adding ginger to your diet can have a calming effect on the bowels and digestive system.
#3
Alzheimer's Disease. Research has shown that ginger helps to slow down the loss of brain cells, which typically is a precursor to Alzheimer's. By protecting the brain cells you are protecting yourself from getting Alzheimer's.
#4
Weight Loss. Ginger works as a fat burner in your body and helps to make sure that the weight you are losing is from fat. It also helps to keep you feeling full longer which will keep you from over eating.

The website mentioned earlier has a few more health facts about ginger, so if you are interested in learning more about ginger, I would suggest checking it out.

So, if ginger is so good for you, how do you add it to your diet? There are a lot of ways to do that! I have been adding a chunk of fresh ginger to my fruit smoothies and it is so delicious. It really gives the drink a festive flavor! Ginger-Lemon tea is also a really great way to get ginger in your body. Its refreshing and great for you! Cooking and baking with ginger is great too! Search around and I am sure you will find many recipes with ginger listed in the ingredient's list!

I hope this post has encouraged you to take steps to better health! If you enjoyed this post, please share it with a friend!

Keep Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana

Delicious Cinnamon Baked Apples

These baked apples are so good! I saw a picture of baked apples on Pinterest and I knew I had to try and make some! These are perfect to warm you up on a cold day and satisfy your sweet tooth with out having an unhealthy dessert! I wrote this recipe myself and I hope you like it!

Ingredients:
2 tsp. cinnamon
5 packets of Truvia
5 Apples
1 stick of Butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. Maple Flavoring
1 cup of oats.
Lemon Juice.

The first thing you want to do is to wash and dry your apples (Remove any stickers they might have on them) and core them. Coring apples is a lot easier with an apple corer, but I didn't have one so I just used a knife and cored them the best I could.

Once you have cored them, place them in a bowl and splash a little lemon juice on them, to keep them from going brown while we make the filling.

To make the filling, first melt your butter in a microwavable bowl. Once melted, add Truvia and Vanilla to the bowl and mix well.

Then, add maple flavoring and cinnamon. I suggest using a whisk to mix this together.

Now, just add your oats and mix it till combined and the oats are coated with the liquid.

 

Take a pan (I am using a 9x13 pan) and cover the bottom and sides with tin foil. Then place the apples in the pan, making sure there is plenty of space between them. Fill the middle of the apples with the filling. Try to get as much as you can in them because it will cook down. You can just sprinkle any leftovers in the bottom of the pan.

 

 

 

Set your oven to 350 F and bake for 25-30 minutes. Then add some tin foil of the top and bake for another 15 minutes.

 

They are done when you can push a fork through them easily. Take them out of the oven when they are done and let them cool a bit before serving them.

See all that lovely sauce in the bottom of the pan? Save that to drizzle over the top of the apples.

 

 

To serve, place an apple on a plate and spoon some of the sauce from the bottom of the pan over the top of the apple. We drizzled a little half-and-half over ours and my little sister added Whip Cream.

 

 

These are so good! I made them for a mid-day snack and everyone loved them! The fact that they are delicious and fairly healthy for you is awesome! Try these yummy treats and let me know what you think! I hope you all love them as much as we did!

 

Remember to follow me on Pinterest and tell a friend about my blog!

 

Keep Healthy and Safe!

H.Banana

 

 

 

 

Cold Weather, Warm Drinks!

  Now that is cold outside I want to have something warm to drink inside! I usually don't like anything that is too complicated or has a bunch of ingredients! Here are a few of my favorite warm drinks to have on those cold days!

#1. Hot Lemon Water. A lot of detoxes and cleanses that I have looked in to have suggested drinking hot lemon water every morning! I like to drink it in the morning and sometimes in the evening. To make it is simple: Just heat some water to boiling(Or just warm, depending on how hot you like your drink to be!) and add a few drops of lemon juice!

#2 Coffee! I love coffee, and if you read a previous post of mine (Your Body on Coffee) you will know that coffee has a lot of health benefits for us! I usually have a cup of coffee with a dash of cream in the morning and then maybe another cup in the afternoon or if I go walking outside I will have a cup. I rarely ever had decaf coffee just because I usually need the caffeine, so I have to make sure not to drink in right before bedtime! How do you like your coffee? What are some of your favorite coffee brands or shops? Let me know!

#3 Apple Cider! I like to drink this hot and cold! We have found an apple cider that doesn't have any added sugars(Which is a plus!) at Costco . I like to heat it in the microwave or have it cold. Spiced apple cider is also amazing, but I rarely have time to make it! Maybe I will have time over the holidays!

#4 Tea! Tea of any kind is great for warming you up on cold winter days! A few of my favorites are, any kind of Green Tea ( To learn more about Green Tea, see a previous post of mine!) Black teas, spiced and herbal teas. Too make it is simple, heat water to boiling and add a tea bag. You can also use lose leaf tea and a strainer. You can check out my Mom's blog( Tea in the Morning Too ) to learn more about tea as well as other things!

#6 Lattes! Lattes have a lot of milk in them and they are usually pretty sweet, but there are plenty of healthier recipes out there to try! I have made a Gingerbread Latte on my blog(See a previous post).

A few favorite flavors are, Gingerbread, Pumpkin, Peppermint, and Caramel. Let me know what flavor of Lattes you like and whether you prefer to make them yourself or get them at a shop!


Well those are just a few of my favorite hot holiday drinks. Let me know what is your favorite holiday drinks! I hope to get a few more holiday drink recipes up in the near future so be on a look out for those!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana

Ab Burning Workout

This is a workout that I made a few days ago and I wanted to share it with you! It is made to target mainly the abs but it also works several other body parts. I did it in about 30-40 minutes so its not a really long workout. I was sweaty when I finished, which to me, means it was a good workout!

Get ready to burn those abs!

100 Jumping Jacks
50 Crunches
50 Squats
25 Push-ups
15 Tricep Dips
20 Vertical Toe Touches
20 Bicycle Crunches
30 Genie Abs
100 Jumping Jacks
50 Sit-ups
50 Squats
25 Push-ups (or to change it up you can do V-Push-ups)
50 Plank Runs
40 sec. Side Plank (Per side)
5 Burpees
20 Plank Punches
40 Jumping Jacks
30 Crunches
20 Plié Squats
10 Push-ups
10 Leg Lifts
10 Lunges (Per Leg)
20 Leg Pulses
50 sec. Low Plank
Child's Pose
Downward Facing Dog
Ankle Holds
Deep Breaths.

   And that's the Ab Burning Workout! Just as a reminder, make sure that you are capable of doing all the exercises in this workout. I don't want anyone getting hurt! If you tried this workout, let me know what you thought! If you have any questions about the workout or a particular exercise in it, let me know in the comments below!

Keep Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana

Food Facts

Here are a few facts about food that will hopefully get you motivated to become healthier! I know that I was pretty 'wowed' by a few of them!

#1
This fact came from Style Craze 
Eating an Apple is a more reliable way to stay awake than drinking coffee. The natural sugars in apples are more potent than the caffeine in coffee.

#2
This fact (and a few of the following) are from paleo-diet-menu
Cherries help calm your nervous system.

#3
Grapes relax your blood vessels.

#4
Apples help your body develop resistance against infection.

#5
Watermelons help control your heart rate.

#6
Oranges help maintain great skin and vision.

#7
Blueberries help protect your heart.

#8
Kiwis increases bone mass.

#9
These next few facts are from Relax Deco
Bell Peppers are full of Vitamin A which contributes to healthy, glowing skin.

#10
Green Tea is rich in antioxidants to help fight off wrinkles and ageing.

#11
Water keeps your skin hydrated and glowing!

Well, that's a few facts about food. Let me know if you didn't know any of these! Now, when I eat any of these foods, I will think about the benefits they have!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana

FitBit

  On Black Friday I got a FitBit Flex . Its a fitness tracker that tracks your steps, calorie burn, active minutes, your sleep and you can log your food, workouts and water intake. I had been wanting one for a while and I am so excited that I finally have one!

Why I wanted a FitBit
 I wanted a FitBit because I wanted to be able to track my activity and calorie burn more accurately. My Dad had owned a Jawbone in the past but he hadn't had too much luck with them working well for a long time. And, since I don't own an Apple device I needed a fitness tracker that had an app for the Samsung devices. FitBit fulfilled all those requirements!

What do I think so far?
I love my FitBit! I wear it all the time, except for in the shower. It is waterproof but I don't want to take any chances! I love getting up in the morning and seeing how well I slept that night and during the day I can check my calorie burn and number of steps! I am much more aware of the need to move more now because I want to reach by daily goals!  I also love the fact that I can set silent alarms to go off to wake me up! The FiBit on my wrist just vibrates enough to wake me up! Its much nicer than an annoying alarm clock!

What does a FitBit do?
Well, for starters, its a fitness tracker. It tracks your movement, calorie burn and activity level as well as your sleep and number of steps. You can program it to wake you up in the morning, remind you during the day to get moving and you can check it with a tap of the finger to the device to see how close you are to reaching your goal! It so motivating to check it during the day and see your progress. It also tell you how many calories to eat based on your needs. As you log your food during the day it tells you how many more calories you need to eat! There are also challenges you can try to compete against other FitBit owners.

  I didn't do any research into other brands of fitness trackers, besides the Jawbone because I knew which one I wanted for my needs. My Dad has ordered a fitness tracker from WiThings and I am excited to see how this one is different from my FitBit.

Let me know if you have a FitBit or other fitness tracker and how you like it, what all it does and how long  you've had it!

Please share my blog with a friend if you have enjoyed my posts! Also, follow be on Pinterest under Hannah Plunkett!

Keep it Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana

Turkey Trot

  Thanksgiving day my family and I went to run in the Turkey Trot 8k. The Turkey Trot is a 8k run that benefits the Kidney Foundation.  For most of us it was our first race ever! We had to get up really early and spend the start of the day freezing outside. Not a typically start to a Thanksgiving day right? But, the excitement of the people around us kept our thoughts away from the cold!  My Mom, little brother and little sisters did the 5k fun run/walk while my older brother, Dad and I ran in the 8k. I had been training for this since we signed up, but I didn't realize how different running by yourself and running among so many other people was! I loved the energy that running with other runners gave me! My Dad and I kept together and I am proud to say that we ran more than we walked!

  Here is us getting ready for the run! My toes and legs were freezing....all until I started running! Then I wanted to take my jacket off because I was getting so warm!

  Mom and my little brother. He wasn't too happy about getting woke up so early, but he was great through the whole thing!

  The morning of the race we didn't have much to eat for breakfast, just something that would give us energy but not make our stomachs too full. I had a yogurt and coffee and I  wasn't hungry or anything until after the race.

  So since this was my first ever race, I  learned a few things. Firstly, make sure that your layers are easy to take off while running. I made the mistake of pinning my race number over the zipper of my jacket so I couldn't take it off too easily. Second, Covering up my ears and hands was a great choice! Like I said in a previous post, its important to keep your ears, face, hands and feet warm!

  The race was a mix of downhill, uphill, through neighborhoods and on highways. I was a little unprepared for this because I had been training going up and down my drive way and on the treadmill. I have made a mental note to change up my training for future races. The race started and the runners were let out in burst, so as to not crowd the running space. I was thankful for this because going around people is not always easy. As we ran through the neighborhoods there were people in front of their houses cheering us on and blasting music to keep us going! There were volunteers who handed us water and called out our times as we past the mile makers.  I was very thankful for those people, and for the running community. Every one was so nice and encouraging no matter what their abilities were!

  Like I said before, this was my first race so obviously I didn't win or finish in very good time. I started out slow and from start to about mile 2 I was still getting warm and I was a little uncomfortable. Once I got warm though I was feeling great and I was able to push a lot harder than normal for me! Running with my Dad was a lot of fun too! We were able to stay together and talk while we ran! We finished in just under an hour ( My older brother's time was 45 or 46 minutes) and afterwards the feeling of relief and pride was wonderful! I had just completed my first race and I was so proud of myself! No, I didn't have great time, but I finished and that in its self is something to be proud of!
After the race we went on to have thanksgiving dinner and I felt at liberty to stuff myself and not worry about it! After all, its thanksgiving!

This post really isn't informational or a healthy tips or anything, its just my take and story from my first race! I hope it inspires you to go out and try something new, run your first race like me or something else! Let me know if you have ever done the Turkey Trot or any other race! What did you think and how long was the race?


Remember to follow me on Pinterest and Keep Healthy and Safe!

H.Banana