I did a Courtney thing!!

Ok, so am doing a Courtney thing a with all of these little facts. So they are, all ways to burn 50 Calories- 

Prepare and cook dinner for 20 min.

Wash Dishes for 20 min.

Floss and Brush your teeth for 18 min.

Walk up stairs for 5 min.

Push a baby stroller for 10 min.

Dust for 19 min.

Play a rousing, extended rendition of "Heart an Soul" on the piano 16 min.

Put makeup on for 22 min.

Try on clothes for 22 min.

Dance a swing dance for 10 min.

Sleep of 49 min.

Play with a hula hoop for 10 min.

Jump rope for 10 min.

Vacuum for 18 min.

 Some of these where practical and some were just for fun!

  Luv,

      Brookie

10 Healthy (and 10 Terrible!) Vending Machine Snacks

It's crunch time, and the snack machine is whispering your name. Pushing the wrong buttons could be a diet disaster -- so check out our top 10 nutritional nightmares, and the 10 smartest snacks.


The Worst Pick:
1. Drake's Apple Fruit Pie440 calories, 27g fat, 7g sat fat, 8g trans fat
The Bottom Line: Nutritional nightmare

Second Worst
2. Austin Cheese Crackers with Cheddar Cheese210 calories, 10g fat, 2g sat fat, 4g trans fatThe Bottom Line: A trans fat fest

Other Guilty Pleasures
3. Pop-Tarts Frosted Strawberry420 calories, 10g fat, 2.5g sat fat, 40g sugar
The Bottom Line: For sharing only

4. Doritos250 calories, 13g fat, 2.5g sat fat, 2g fiber
The Bottom Line: "Nacho" best option

5. Skittles250 calories, 2.5g fat, 2.5g sat fat
The Bottom Line: More calories and fat than Twizzlers

6. Cheez-It Baked Snack Crackers (27)160 calories, 8g fat, 2g sat fat
The Bottom Line: No fiber, no protein

7. Ruffles Original160 calories, 10g fat, 3g sat fat
The Bottom Line: Nothing but empty calories

8. Cheetos Crunchy160 calories, 10g fat, 1.5g sat fat
The Bottom Line: Not great, but could be worse

9. Twix280 calories, 14g fat, 11g sat fat
The Bottom Line: More "bad" fat than a Snickers

10. 3 Musketeers260 calories, 8g fat, 5g sat fat, 40g sugar
The Bottom Line: Lower fat, but still candy



Healthy Snacks:

Top Pick

1. Planters Sunflower Kernels (1/4 cup)160 calories, 14g fat, 1.5g sat fat, 4g fiber
The Bottom Line: Full of healthy fats

Second Best
2. Baked! Lays Original210 calories, 3g fat, 0g sat fat, 4g fiber
The Bottom Line: Surprisingly fiber-full

Other Smart Snacks
3. Sun Chips Original140 calories, 6g fat, 1g sat fat, 2g fiber
The Bottom Line: Made of whole grains

4. Snyder's of Hanover Mini Pretzels (20)110 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat
The Bottom Line: Naturally fat-free

5. Smartfood Reduced-Fat Popcorn120 calories, 5g fat, 1g sat fat, 2g fiber
The Bottom Line: Low fat, and has fiber!

6. Peanut M&M's250 calories, 13g fat, 5g sat fat, 2g fiber
The Bottom Line: Just don't go nuts

7. Fig Newtons 190 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 2g fiber
The Bottom Line: It's fruit!

8. Nature Valley Granola Bar, Oats & Honey180 calories, 6g fat, 0.5g sat fat, 2g fiber
The Bottom Line: Beats hunger

9. Planters Honey Roasted Peanuts (39)160 calories, 13g fat, 1.5g sat fat, 6g protein
The Bottom Line: High in protein

10. Quaker Chewy Low-Fat Granola Bar, Chocolate Chunk110 calories, 2g fat, 0.5g sat fat, 1g fiber
The Bottom Line: Guilt-free chocolate


I got this article from a fitness website. This is for you Sierra!
Courtney

Fat Burning Foods

This is for Sierra, who says i never post anything!!!!!

        Did you know there's a few foods that will actually brun fat as u digest them? here they are!

 

* Celery - most people know that celery burns more calories than it is to eat it. so celery is a negative calorie food.

* Grapefruit- grapefruit is another fat burning food.... leave the sugar off the top though!

* Raw Nuts- I have a great recipe for a kinda of seed and nut bar that has tons of fat burning seeds and nuts.maybe if i can find it in writing i'll post it.... i have one every morning, they're amazing!

    anywho.... g2g! * Kylie * 

The Health Benefits of Chocolate!!!

Kimmy, your comment inspired me to look up chocolate and see if there was anything good about it... besides it's amazing taste! Here's an article I found on it.

Courtney

Chocolate is one of the most popular sweet-tasting treats in the world and has been for centuries. But part of the myth surrounding chocolate is that if it tastes so good, it must be bad for your health .
But the surprising news from the scientific community is that this reputedly decadent treat actually has some health benefits, especially if you choose your chocolate wisely.

Is Chocolate A Health Food?

Chocolate contains more than 300 chemicals, and has been the subject of a number of studies by universities and other scientific organizations. Here's a quick rundown of the results. (Note, we have no way of proving or disproving these claims so we offer them here as a stimulus for further research. If you're really interested in the subject, this may provide you with a starting point.)
* Cacao, the source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. Of course, this is counteracted by the high sugar content of milk chocolate.
* The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.
* Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.
* The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which may raise good cholesterol.
* Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may actually diminish appetite.
* Men who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don't.
* The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic.
* Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.
* Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.
* The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.


What Chocolate Won't Do

There are many myths and half-truths about the effects of chocolate on the human body. Here are the latest findings on several of them.
* Studies show that chocolate is not a causative factor in acne.
* Cacao contains the stimulants caffeine and bromine, but in such small quantities that they don't cause nervous excitability.
* Chocolate is not addictive.
* Chocolate contains stearic acid, a neutral fat which doesn't raise bad cholesterol.

Congrats to Courtney for being FREE!!!!

Haha! This has nothing to do with health, but Shout out to Courtney for getting her liscence today and becoming a totally independant human being who can go to starbucks whenever she wants!!!! haha, lol, hug! * Kylie *

10-Calorie Snacks

The SELF 10-calorie diet trick Enjoy up to 200 calories per day of your favorite snacks to stay slim and satisfied. Print the lists below and nibble away!


10-Calorie sweet snacks from SELF

½ Nestlé Pretzel Flipz
1 apple slice
1 Austin Zoo animal cracker
1 container tropical berry or strawberry-kiwi Jell-O sugar-free gelatin snack
1 dried pineapple piece
1 grapefruit segment
1 gummi bear
1 Hershey’s white chocolate pretzel bite
1 Keebler mini vanilla wafer
1 Miss Meringue mini vanilla meringue cookie
1 Mr. Goodbar Bites
1 navel orange segment
1 peanut M&M
1 Rolo Bites
1 Snackwell’s chocolate chip bite-size cookie
1 York Bites
1 Whopper
1.5 banana chips
1.5 Hershey’s Kissables
1.5 Quaker Quakes mini rice cakes (cheese, ranch or sour cream and onion flavor)
1.5 Trader Joe’s Mini Fruit Slices candies
1.5 Twizzlers black licorice bites
2 cantaloupe balls
2 large strawberries
2 pieces Brach’s candy corn
2 Skittles
2 Teddy Grahams
2.5 baby carrots
2.5 cherries
2.5 Jelly Belly jelly beans
2.5 Reese’s Pieces
3 Altoids mints
3 cherry tomatoes
3 plain M&M’s
3 red or green grapes
3 tangerine segments
3 watermelon balls
4 Nestlé Toll House semisweet chocolate chips
4.5 mini marshmallows
6.5 raisins
9 Brach’s Cinnamon Imperial Hearts
10 raspberries
12.5 blueberries
¼ cup fresh cranberries

10-calorie crunchy snacks from SELF

1 cashew half
1 Cheetos Puff
1 large celery stick
1 French onion SunChip
1 Lay’s potato chip
1 pecan half
1 reduced-fat Pringle
1 shoestring french fry
1 Snyder’s of Hanoverhoney mustard and onion pretzel nibbler
1 taro chip
1 Tostitos Scoops! chip
1 Trader Joe’s Bagel Chip (everything flavor)
1 Wheatables cracker
1.5 almonds
1.5 Calbee Saya snow pea crisps
1.5 Kashi TLC honey sesame crackers
2 baked bite-sized Tostitos tortilla chips
2 Big Cheez-It Crackers
2 Fritos
2 Sabra Mini Crunchy Pickles
2.5 baked Cheetos
2.5 pistachios
3 Eden Foods Brown Rice Chips
4 Cheddar Goldfish crackers
5 green-bell-pepper rings (raw, 1⁄4 inch thick)
7 pieces Pirate’s Booty
7 sugar snap peas (raw, in pod)
7 Veggie Stix
9 roasted and salted pumpkin seeds
10 cucumber slices
10 Wheat Chex
11 pieces shelled edamame (soybeans)
18 roasted and salted sunflower seeds
20 roasted and salted soynuts
42 Cheerios
1⁄3 cup air-popped popcorn

~Hey guys, I thought this article was really interesting!
Courtney

Healthy Snack: Celery

So I was telling Mollie and Brooke this yesterday, but I thought I'd let you all know since it's kind of cool. Anyway, it takes more calories to digest celery than is actually in the celery. So it's kind of like negative calories. Plus it's really good for you. Dip the celery in peanut butter and it's even better for you. Peanut butter contains a lot of protein, good fats (yes there is such a thing as good fats!) and lots of other nutrients.

A really funny and interesting article I found...

Who hasn't spent way too much moolah on a box of those cleverly packaged 100-calorie baglettes of cookies or crackers? Even though you know they cost roughly twice what a regular bag does -- not to mention that all that packaging is a mini-environmental disaster -- still, they limit temptation. Save your dough and satisfy your snack attacks with one of these treats. Lots are single servings; nearly all the rest can be popped into mini-plastic bags and thrown into a pocket or bag. No will power needed.

5 Hershey's dark chocolate Kisses or, if chocolate's gotta be Dove for you, 2 Dove Promise dark chocolate miniatures

2 fresh figs or 1 juicy pear

½ English muffin toasted with just enough cheddar to meltingly cover the top

1 heaping cup of cherries

12 almonds

12 dried apricot halves

1 Dannon Light & Fit Raspberry Smoothie

1 Klondike Slim-a-Bear fudge bar

48 Rold Gold pretzel sticks

2 Dole frozen fruit juice bars (go wild and have 3 if you like -- at 30 calories a pop, who cares?)

1 Starbucks 8-oz. Caramel Macchiato, made with nonfat milk

Eat Right Tip

DON'T HIDE THE EVIDENCE
Your stomach doesn't know how much it's consumed without some help from your eyes, says Brian Wansink, Ph.D., of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and author of Mindless Eating (Random House). In one of his studies, when tables were bused at a Super Bowl party, people ate about 24 percent more wings than when the nibbled-on bones were left on the table. Keeping the evidence of what you've eaten—candy wrappers, discarded chicken bones, soda cans—in front of you may get your body to register "I'm satisfied" sooner.


~I found this tip on a fitness website. I thought it was interesting.
Courtney

(no subject)

 so i think it would be really cool if we could all get together once a month and exercise, because i usually go on runs a couple days a week but its always by myself and a house got robbed like 2 blocks from my house so its not that safe for me to go by myself, so maybe we could all meet up and go on a run, or play tennis or just do something in a group.any suggestions??

 

                                                             -Amy

---

See what's free at AOL.com.

Sweets in portion

 Ok, I already told Ky and Courtney this but, I love ice cream ( and chocolate but that is besides the point) One way to cut down your ice cream intake is that when you do splurge and eat it eat it in a tea cup or some other sort of little cup that only holds a small amount. It makes you feel like you are eating a full dish but the trick is the size of the dish. That is my suggestion like it or not.  And if you have never had a special K bar you need to try one. To me they are like a desert but only have 90 calories.  Ok, I'm done now! Hope that helped!  - Brooke

Why am I the only one whoever posts anything? so anywho. ok health tips, ok ive got some really good butt, excuse me, bottom exercises, because you know looking good in a bikini isn't only about having a toned tummy, but a good bu...bottom, because nothing is worse that a person with a saggy bottom, ok the first one is called the clam, you lay on your side with you palm down at your side near your stomach, your legs should be at a 90 degree angle. you keep your feet together and lift your knee all the way up with out moving your hips, form is soooooooo importaint, if you don't do it right it won't work. do it 20 times it will burn like no other but push through it will pay off. ok second one i have know idea what it is called but it works. start in the same position as the clam except this time keep your knees together and lift your foot in the air. ok so now fully extend your leg and then go back to having your knees together and your shin in the air. do it 20 times, ok last one do the clam but before you go back down extend your leg fully. do it 20 times, when you finish flip over and do it on the other side. so yah, do it every night till the party and you will look amazing. i would know, i mean how else would i look so good in those spandex. hahahahahah jk lol. - Sierra Anne xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Motivational prize?

Yay! I'm so excited you guys are all posting on here! You know, I think we should have like a prize for the person who doesn't eat any sweets for the longest time or loses the most weight or something for motivation. I don't know what the prize could be. Something healthy of course! lol. What do you guys think?

~Court

Hey guys!!!! this is sooooo cool. im like talking to all you guys at the same time. thats sooooooooo cool!!! so any who, am i soposed (however you spell that) to tell you guys about yummy healthy stuff to eat or what? ok soo heres one, At the stor in the cereal section is granola, they have it with blueberries and strawberries and yummy stuff like that, and then you get low-fat vanilla yogurt. its sooooo good. its delicious and nutricous(i don't think i spellt that right), yah i eat it like every morning for beakfast,even though im lactoce. i know im bad. but its soooooo good.

so yah see you all tomorrow, well most of you... -Sierra

A question

Hey everyone,

  I was just wondering if any of you have ever heard about how well those ab-lounge things really work. If any of you know please Email me to let me know. -Thanks a ton-

                                                    Brookie

Taste just like the real thing!

Here's some awesomeness tasting foods that cut the calories!

 

*I posted this on a comment too, but but about a tbsp of 1/2 and 1/2 and a pinch of sugar over blueberries! it tastes soooo good and blueberries are full of antioxidants. (whatever those are... lol.... Moll) It's not very bad 4 u at all, well, less harmless than a cup of coffee!

 

* for Brookie... craving a chocolate muffin? There's these Weight Watchers ones that you can find at the grocery store, they taste EXACTLY like those delectable Costco creations and are almost as big too! But WAY better for you!

 

and... that's all i got for now... more later! ~ Ky ~ 

 

10 Great Health Foods

Introduction
Here are your best bets for eating well. These 10 health foods are some of the healthiest because they meet at least three of the following criteria:

-Are a good or excellent source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients

-Are high in phytonutrients and antioxidant compounds, such as vitamins A and E and beta carotene

-May help reduce the risk of heart disease and other health conditions

-Are low in calorie density, meaning you get a larger portion size with a fewer number of calories

-Are readily available


Apples
Why eat apples? Apples are an excellent source of pectin, a soluble fiber that can lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. Fresh apples are also good sources of the vitamin C — an antioxidant that protects your body's cells from damage. Vitamin C also helps form the connective tissue collagen, keeps your capillaries and blood vessels healthy, and aids in the absorption of iron and folate.

Almonds
Why eat almonds? These tear-shaped nuts are packed with nutrients — fiber, riboflavin, magnesium, iron and calcium. In fact, almonds have more calcium than any other nut — 70 milligrams (mg) in 23 almonds. And one serving of almonds provides half of your body's Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin E.
Like all nuts, almonds provide one of the best plant sources of protein. And they're good for your heart. Most of the fat in almonds is monounsaturated fat — a healthier type of fat that may help lower blood cholesterol levels.

Blueberries
Why eat blueberries? Blueberries are a rich source of plant compounds (phytonutrients). As with cranberries, phytonutrients in blueberries may help prevent urinary tract infections. Blueberries may also improve short-term memory and promote healthy aging.
Blueberries are also a low-calorie source of fiber and vitamin C — 1 cup of fresh blueberries has 83 calories, 3.5 grams of fiber and 14 mg of vitamin C.

Broccoli
Why eat broccoli? Besides being a good source of calcium, potassium, folate and fiber, broccoli contains phytonutrients — a group of compounds that may help prevent chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Broccoli is also a good source of vitamins A and C — antioxidants that protect your body's cells from damage.

Red beans
Why eat red beans? Red beans — including small red beans and dark red kidney beans — are good sources of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and thiamin. They're also an excellent low-fat, low-calorie source of protein and dietary fiber. Red beans also contain phytonutrients that may help prevent chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Salmon
Why eat salmon? Salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids — a type of fat that makes your blood less likely to form clots that may cause heart attacks. Omega-3s may also protect against irregular heartbeats that may cause sudden cardiac death, decrease triglyceride levels, decrease the growth of artery-clogging plaques, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke.
In addition to being an excellent source of omega-3s, salmon is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and is a good source of protein.

Spinach
Why eat spinach? Spinach is high in vitamins A and C and folate. It's also a good source of riboflavin, vitamin B-6, calcium, iron and magnesium. The plant compounds in spinach may boost your immune system and may help keep your hair and skin healthy.

Sweet potatoes
Why eat sweet potatoes? The deep orange-yellow color of sweet potatoes tells you that they're high in the antioxidant beta carotene. Food sources of beta carotene, which are converted to vitamin A in your body, may help slow the aging process and reduce the risk of some cancers. Sweet potatoes are also good sources of fiber, vitamins B-6, C and E, folate and potassium. And like all vegetables, they're fat-free and relatively low in calories — one small sweet potato has just 54 calories.

Vegetable juice
Why drink vegetable juice? Vegetable juice has most of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients found in the original vegetables and is an easy way to include vegetables in your diet. Tomato juice and vegetable juices, which include tomatoes, are good sources of lycopene, an antioxidant which may reduce the risk of heart attack, prostate cancer and possibly other types of cancer. Some vegetable and tomato juices are very high in sodium, so be sure to select the low-sodium varieties.

Wheat germ
Why eat wheat germ? At the center of a grain of wheat is the wheat germ — the part of the seed that's responsible for the development and growth of the new plant sprout. Though only a small part of the wheat seed, the germ is a highly concentrated source of nutrients, including niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin E, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc. The germ also contains protein, fiber and some fat.

10 High Energy Ways to Start the Day

Morning madness can make you feel like food is a time-luxury you can't afford. But am PSTresearch shows that breakfast eaters are slimmer and healthier than their coffee-only counterparts. One reason: People who start out empty are more likely to overeat later. Need something to eat almost anywhere? No problem. Fuel up right with these 10 breakfasts-they've got lots of fiber to control cravings, protein to trim appetite, and a dab of healthy fat to keep you full for hours.

Brown Bag What to take along for the car, bus, or train: A stick of string cheese, a slice of whole-wheat bread, and a cup of seedless red grapes.Calories, 212; protein, 10; carbs, 28; fat, 7; sugars, 17; fiber, 3

Blender Bliss Throw everything here into the blender and whip up a delicious smoothie: 1 small banana, ½ cup frozen blueberries, 1 cup nonfat plain yogurt, ½ Tbs. honey, ½ Tbs. flaxseed oil.Calories, 357; protein, 15; carbs, 71; fat, 7; sugars, 47; fiber, 5

Grab and Go On even the craziest mornings, there's still time to prime your body with this healthy fast food: a pear or apple, a handful of almonds, and 7 low-fat Triscuits.Calories, 392; protein, 10; carbs, 54; fat, 18; sugars, 18; fiber, 12

Desk-Top Parfait Not ready to eat first thing? At home, alternate layers of low-fat vanilla yogurt (1 cup) with 1 cup sliced strawberries in a clear plastic container. Put 1/4 cup Grape Nuts cereal in a baggie and sprinkle on top when you get to work.Calories, 253; protein, 10; carbs, 53; fat, 1.5; sugars, 28; fiber, 7

Morning Mini-Meeting Even if it's casual enough to eat while you talk, still think quiet food: half a peanut butter sandwich on whole-wheat bread, a banana, and a half-pint carton of skim milk.Calories, 349; protein, 17; carbs, 50; fat, 9; sugars, 28; fiber, 6

Pre- or Post-Workout This simple homemade trail mix will get you going: 1 cup Cheerios, 7 walnut halves, 2 Tbs. dried raisins, and a sliced medium apple.Calories, 317; protein, 5; carbs, 55; fat, 11; sugars, 23; fiber, 8

Convenience Stop TodayEven mini-marts have some healthy options. Snag a low-fat yogurt, a small orange juice, and a single-serving box of whole-grain cereal.Calories, 316; protein, 11; carbs, 54; fat, 2; sugars, 25; fiber, 5

Chill-Chaser For warmthGet stick-to-your-ribs goodness by mixing 1 cup hot oatmeal with 1 diced apple, 8 chopped pecan halves, and 1 cup skim milk.Calories, 365; protein, 14; carbs, 56; fat, 10; sugars, 28; fiber, 4

The Drive-Thru Dash Not a first choice, but better than nada. At Dunkin' Donuts, get half of a wheat bagel (they're huge), a small OJ, and a half pint of 1% milk.Calories, 343; protein, 18; carbs, 70; fat, 5; sugars, 24; fiber, 2

Slow Saturdays At last, there's time to savor the meal, and the day. Start with a half a grapefruit. Scramble a large egg with some sautéed veggies and crumbled turkey sausage. Serve with a slice of whole-wheat toast. Relax.Calories, 355; protein, 19; carbs, 39; fat, 12; sugars, 12; fiber, 6

Our Blog

Hey Girls! Pretty cool, huh? Kylie and I were talking the other day and we figured it would be a lot easier do a blog than sending e-mails to everyone. We can post tips, recipes and encouragement to one another on here! I needed a name for it and that was the only name I could come up with on the spot. If you like it great, but I don't care if we change it. Let me know how you like it!