Say No to Holiday Fluff!

Ah...the holidays.  Beautiful trees, spending time with loved ones, and going to Christmas church service...and hoping that those extra scoops of holiday food goodness somehow magically disappeared with Santa on his sleigh instead of taking up residence on your backside for the long winter.  Since the season of eating begins tomorrow, I think it's best I revisit last year's article on maintaining your weight through the holiday season.  My least favorite diet tip that aaaaall the magazines like to put out there is still the one about eating your dinner before you go to a party so you don't eat while you're at the party.  Um, news flash...I don't have to be hungry to eat a cookie or drink a pint of egg nog.  It's like jello...there's always room.  Plus, who wants to be the person who deprives themselves of all Christmas treats?  Um, not this Posh Purpose girl.  So!  Here we go!  Most of these tips are about planning and making minor changes to make up for a few extra calories here and there:

Posh Purpose's Kindly Suggestions on How to Still Fit in Your Pants Come January

1. Religious calorie counting on days you don't have parties/events - 1600 calories* and no more (I use an Android app called Fat Secret...horrible name, but decent app).  Weigh in daily to keep yourself honest.

2. Eat something healthy before a party - soup and salad if you have time or yogurt and nuts are both good options.  Although I don't believe in eating before you go to a party in order to not eat at the party is a good idea, I also don't think I want to have my blood sugar drop and find myself face first in a cheese platter either.  Been there, done that.  Also, your tummy and waistline will thank you if you go to a corporate with nothing but dried out chicken and greasy (but tasteless) sides.  Those items just aren't worth the calories, but you would probably devour them if you went on an empty stomach.

3. Eat 3-4 small servings of things you truly want to eat at the party - things that are special for Christmas time or you know are a specialty of the hosts....then don't eat them again at any other parties.  For example, I love egg nog, rum balls, and peppermint bark.  I could have a small cup of egg nog, 2-3 rum balls, and a piece of peppermint bark at a party.  At the next party, I would bypass these items and perhaps choose a scoop of hot crab dip, a small cup of apple cider, and a slice of pie.  Then bypass all of those items at any other parties.  Fill up on veggies and lean protein for the rest of your food selection.  Cold shrimp is a very good choice that you will often find this time of year.  My theory on this tip is that I will get to have all my favorite things without overloading my plate at each and every party.

4. Cut back on your everyday treats -  ex. if you are putting half and half in your coffee, switch to 2% for the next month.

5. Eat seafood at corporate events - My nutritionist once said that if you have to go into an event blind or without any ability to customize your food, go for fish.  Even if the fish is deep fried or sauteed in butter, the calorie count for fish starting out is lower than any of the other proteins.

6. Stick to wine or hard cider - Lots of taste, less calories than a mixed drink, classier than a shot, and no fat.

7. Plan out where you can eat when you are running errands or Christmas shopping now - For me, I know the meal combinations I can have at Chick-Fil-A (grilled chicken nuggets and small fry or spicy chicken sandwich - no bun - and small fry) and Panera Bread (bacon turkey bravo half sandwich and half salad or bowl of soup) which are readily accessible.  Other options for a sit down meal, are Olive Garden (soup, salad, and bread sticks) and Seasons 52 (no item on the menu is over 475 calories).  I would suggest looking at your local area where you plan on doing the most shopping and coming up with a game plan.  My nutritionist told me successful dieters have plans and people tend to gain weight the most when they are rushed for time and don't have a plan set in place.  That's how you wind up pulling through the Taco Bell line and ordering a burrito and two tacos with extra nacho sauce.  This goes the same for traveling!  Have a plan of where you can stop on the road or in the airport.  Bring snacks with you so you aren't tempted!

8. Add on 15 mins to your work out time or another workout a week.  This one can be super hard!  If you can't add it to your work out or you have no extra days for a workout, try to go for a walk at lunch during your work days.  Also, try and have a nice walk (so relaxing!) or jog (if you feel so inclined, I rarely do) on the major holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.  It will help you digest post-meal and it's a nice way to either spend time with family or get away from them (depending on your situation).  I'm going to try to hit up zumba tomorrow morning right after the turkey goes in the oven!  I'd also like to add in a post-church zumba class or a spin class on Sundays.

9. Take none and leave all - If you are having a party or hosting Christmas dinner, stock up on to-go containers.  If it's not healthy, it must go.  If you are attending a party, refuse to take anything.  You can "accidentally" leave it behind.  Whoopsies.

10. Plan a non-meal event for your girlfriend get togethers -  I suggest coffee.  You can get a small drink (latte with cinnamon on top - caffeine & protein!) and if you can't stay away from the bakery case, split something with your friends. You'll save money and calories.  More active options would be to go bowling or ice skating. 

11. Eat what you want on the main days - Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.  Chances are you probably won't be eating more than one big meal each of those days.  Even if you are eating 2,500 calories, you are doing it all at once and not three times that day.  You should also be able to rebound from 1-3 days of poor eating spread out over several weeks....it's the week long time frame of Thanksgiving and in between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day that I've noticed really make an impact.  I also don't see the point in eating low-cal versions of traditional foods - pumpkin pie with splenda is just not the same and cranberries flavored with agave sounds nasty.  If you must exercise some sort of self control or you are attending multiple meals in one day - fill up on whatever main protein there is (ham, turkey, etc.) and the healthiest side (usually green beans).  You can have one small scoop each of all your favorite things and only eat the best offerings at each meal if you are going to multiple places (i.e. if your Aunt Gertrude's sweet potatoes are better than your granny's...don't tell, but don't eat either).

12. Get back to your regular groove as soon as possible and don't beat yourself up - You may still gain 1-3 lbs between now and the New Year...but that's much less to beat myself up about and far fewer pounds to work off compared to the 20 billion people who join the gym and take all the parking spots/machines post-holiday 15 lb. binge.  I'll just go back to my regular schedule - I hope without having to buy new pants.

If you've got any other tips, let me know!  I'm always open to suggestions.

* I'm not a licensed professional, so you should consult your doctor before starting any nutrition plan or exercise program.

Posh Purpose Review: Victoria's Secret No-Show Hiphugger Sport Panty

I'm a huge fan of the Victoria's Secret Sport Collection and I've blogged my love and devotion to their line of sports bras before and my positive feelings about them have stayed the same.  I decided to give their sports line of underwear a go and I bought three pairs of the Victoria's Secret No-Show Hiphugger Sport Panty when I spotted them on sale for 3 for $33.

No-Show Hiphugger Sport Panty
$12.50 - $14.50
Image Source: Victoria's Secret

I wanted to try this line of underwear because of the cheaper price (Lululemon's are $18 each!) and the material.  I've had microfiber work out underwear in the past before which has been great performance-wise, but I still had horrible visible panty lines (VPL).  Usually, I'm soooooo anti-VPL and I simply do not understand women who traipse around with an outline on their tush.  It's not slimming especially if your backside is your problem area (I know it's one of mine!).  HOWEVER, the gym is the one place I give it a pass.  You should be as comfortable as possible when sweatin' it out and if that means VPLs then VPLs it is!

This underwear is made from moisture wicking fabric and billed as no-show.  I gave them a test run on Saturday at zumba class, because it doesn't get sweatier than that.  I was really impressed with how comfortable this underwear was when I wasn't moving around.  I loved them when I was hanging out around the apartment in the morning and sitting in the car on the way to the gym.  I hated them once the music started.  Let me just tell you that it is indeed possible to have your underwear ride up in both the back aaaaand the front at the same time...for a solid hour.  As for the no-show claim, I will say the panty lines were only partially visible and it was very faint, but I'd glad trade in more lines for less...ummmmm...upward mobility?

I'll be taking the other two unworn pairs back to Victoria's Secret because I just can't see these being a good thing for cardio classes.  I'll keep wearing the pair I have, but probably only for strength training or yoga type of classes which I don't attend too often.

Posh Purpose Rating: C

Posh Purpose Tip: Frozen Organic Mushrooms

I'm a huge mushroom lover and I eat them any way I can get them including straight from a can (Briana is gagging right now, she can't stand mushrooms), but I find that the fresh ones, especially the shiitakes, are super expensive and organic mushrooms just cost too much for me to include in my weekly grocery budget (mushrooms should not cost as much as meat - they haven't had to be birthed, housed, or fed for many months). Luckily, I've found a great solution!  Frozen organic mushrooms!

Image Source: Woodstock Foods

I found these last winter at Wegmans for $3.29 per bag and Whole Foods also carries them for a little bit more.  $3.29 for 10 oz of mushrooms is a really great deal (fresh white button mushrooms are typically sold in smaller portions for about the same price), but when you consider you can get organic and shiitake thrown into the mix, it's awesome!  

I use these mushrooms all the time when the mushroom isn't meant to be the "star" of the dish, but just an ingredient or extra veggie boost.   Frozen mushrooms are great for throwing in pasta sauces, topping off a chicken dish, or adding a little bulk to your chili.  However, I would not use them for something like cream of mushroom soup or salads (ick!).  Anyone else tried this easy fix?

Posh Purpose Recipe: Coconut Protein Shake

I've been experimenting lately with making protein smoothies for breakfast when Mr. 3 isn't in town (he usually makes me an omelet everyday when he is here...sweet man!).  I've finally come up with one that is delicious, nutritious, and keeps me from getting hungry until about 12:30 PM. 

 

Posh Purpose Coconut Protein Shake

 

1 cup whole milk (I insist on whole milk.  My doctor told me recently that if you take the fat out of dairy, you are basically left with a pile of carbs which raises your blood sugar and won't keep you full for long!)

1 scoop vanilla protein powder (look for a low carb kind, you want one with around 2 carbs per scoop)

1 tbs. almond butter (look for one without sugar or any other sweetener or any other chemicals)

1 tbs. coconut oil

2 tbs chia seeds

Healthy dash of cinnamon

4 ice cubes

 

Put the milk in the blender and add the rest of the ingredients with the ice cubes going in last.  Blend.  If you like a thicker smoothie add more ice, but I like to drink mine quickly in the morning when I don't have time to stop for brain freezes.  Makes 1 serving.

 

This smoothie is high in protein, healthy fats, and loads of good for you vitamins. The total calorie count is around 550 calories depending on your choice of protein powder which may sound a bit high...but I've been able to cut out my mid-morning snack with no issue which balances everything out!  I love the taste and it reminds me a bit of horchata which is delicious! 

 

Briana is off to a wedding in Kentucky for the weekend and I plan on hanging out at the pool for at least a few hours.  Hope everyone has a fun weekend...and perhaps a coconut shake!



Bits from Behind the Scenes: Kombucha

Following my recent post on kombucha, my family (who are quite the loyal Posh Purpose readers!) and I have had quite the lively email chain going regarding kombucha.  Unbeknownst to me, our grandmother grew/cultivated/created kombucha in a jar she kept in the living room and my mother and aunts feared that the kombucha (which looked like a mushroom) would attack them in the night.  Here's the email chain I received (Mama = our grandmother):

Email 1 - My Mom: I wonder if you realize that that stuff you are paying money for is what Mama use to grow in a big gallon jar and keep it under a chair.  It was a giant, creepy mushroom that her friend gave her because they grow babies.  Then, they poured off the liquid and drank it.  It looked like a space alien.

Email 2 - Me: welll.....I've never seen pictures of it, but I would imagine it's quite disgusting looking.  which is why i choose to pay for it in my nice clean glass bottle with pretty labeling.  i'm also pretty sure if i left a jar under the sink i would forget about it and it would one day be the basis for a sci-fi movie based on a true story...orrrrrrr i'd convince myself it was ok to drink and spend a few days in the hospital recovering from bad kombucha (which I can only imagine how horrid bad kombucha could be).  not to be gross...but all i'm going to say about it's effects are that my colon has been extra healthy of late.  sooooo, if any of you are suffering from a less than pleasant potty experience, you might give it a go.

Email 3 - My Mom: Mama kept it under a chair in the living room.

Email 4 - Our Aunt J: When I slept at Mama' s I always made sure a lid was on it...just to be sure it stayed in the jar overnite. I got the mushroom from a friend of mine.

Email 5 - My Mom: Briana's mom said she put books on top of the jar to make sure the mushroom stayed in there.

Email 6 - Aunt J: Yes we each had our way of protecting ourselves.

Email 7 - My Mom: How life changes......what we once feared is now sold in pricey bottles.

Email 8 - Briana's Mom: Mama kept it in daddy's office under the desk when I was there. I understood that it had to be in a dark environment.  It was very very scary! Mama offered me a taste, understandably I declined the experience.  Frankly I would rather have cancer than let a man eating mushroom live in my house.

Needless to say, it looks like I will be the only one raising a glass of kombucha anytime soon (poured directly from a nice clean, fancy pants bottle...and not from a jar shoved in some dark corner of my apartment).  Hope this made you laugh!  Have a great weekend everyone!

Kombucha: A Weird & Tasty Treat

Sometimes I'm a little behind on the latest and greatest in clean living, organic, natural remedy, sure-to-kill-all-that-ails-you type of trends...and evidently Kombucha is no different.  Kombucha is a sparkling drink made from fermented (with who knows what) tea, sometimes a bit of juice, and sparkling water.  It's supposedly filled with all sorts of probiotic and vitamin goodness that is said to relieve all sorts of ailments.  I actually first read about kombucha in a hilariously funny article from the Huffington Post on "Surviving Whole Foods."  Needless to say, the article's description is not what inspired me to try kombucha nor did it send me running to the store to pick up a bottle.

Mr. 3 and I were at Whole Foods having a glass of wine and I noticed that they carried kombucha on tap.  I asked the barkeep to describe it to me and he described kombucha as "slightly vinegary fizzy drink", which reminded me of my Balsamic Vinegar Spritzer but with more bacteria...so he gave me a pour of the elderberry version and I loved it!

After googling a bit more about it, I decided to pick up two bottles to try from Safeway: Kevita Lemon Ginger and GT's Synergy Enlighted Kombucha in Cosmic Cranberry.  Both were delicious and less than 100 calories for the 16 oz. bottle.  I liked the fizziness and the flavor was really yummy, but yes a bit vinegary...which evidently I do not have a problem with and seem to enjoy.  I could definitely see this being a great car trip treat if I plan far enough in advance or as a daily drink.  I'm going to try a few more brands and see if I have any positive health effects.  I will report back once I've taken it a bit more.

Briana and I are also trying out coconut oil in a bunch of different ways (makeup remover, lotion, bug repellant, etc.) in the upcoming weeks, so look for articles on coconut oil too.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend...and perhaps a bottle of kombucha!

Posh Purpose Recipe: Balsamic Vinegar Spritzer

I recently went to an in-store tasting event at one of my favorite local stores - Under the Olive Tree.  I've blogged about how wonderful their products are before, but they also host a great event with super tasty Mediterranean inspired food.  At their recent party, they made a delicious drink using club soda, lemon white balsamic vinegar, and fresh lemons.  They called it their "non-alcoholic version of lemoncello" and served it in big pitchers.  I asked one of the daughters who works in the store for the recipe and she said they used three cups of vinegar to one two-liter bottle of club soda!  That is a tooooon of vinegar.  I've recreated the recipe for an individual serving.

Posh Purpose Balsamic Vinegar Spritzer

-1 can of club soda

-1/8 of a cup of flavored balsamic vinegar (I suggest fruity flavors like orange or lemon which should be available in most grocery stores.  I've tried mango and fig from Under the Olive Tree.  Next stop, blackberry ginger and pineapple.)

-Ice

Just mix and enjoy!

I love this sweet/tart drink!  You can adjust your vinegar depending on how tart you like it.  By picking flavored vinegars, they aren't as sour as a traditional plain balsamic vinegar.  I know it's a bit odd to use vinegar to flavor a drink, but it's about 60 calories using this ratio and creates a lot of taste without the artificial sweeteners or sugar.  There are also a number of health benefits that I read about adding vinegar to your diet (here, here, and here) that makes me want to try to find new ways to incorporate it into my diet. If you are trying to cut calories or break off a nasty soda habit, I recommend that you give this a try!  I plan on drinking it a lot this year and also serving it in big pitchers when people come over for dinner.

Give it a go and let us know what you think! 

Posh Purpose Recipe: Vitamix Smoothie Making Formula

I've become a pretty regular smoothie maker since receiving our Vitamix as a wedding present.  I love that I can get tons of vitamins and a good portion of my daily intake of fruits and veggies in one cup.  The Vitamix is especially wonderful for many many many reasons that will make your eyes glaze over if I tell you them, but among them is that it easily handles harder fruits and veggies like apples and carrots that a regular blender (even a powerful one) can't handle.  The Vitamix comes with a cookbook of all different types of smoothie recipes, but I believe I've found an easy to remember formula that will let you keep your cookbook in the cabinet and using whatever you have on hand.

Posh Purpose Vitamix Smoothie Making Formula

1. Fill bottom third of Vitamix with squishy, juicy, room temperature fruit - this would include bananas, oranges, ripe peaches, and berries
2. Fill next third of Vitamix with hard or dense veggies and fruits - items like apples, carrots, celery, zucchini - this is also a good time to put in any sort of supplement powder, chia seeds, lime or lemon juice, or ginger
3. Fill last third with leafy veggies and top with 10-12 regular sized ice cubes - spinach and kale are packed with nutrients and you won't taste them with all the flavors from #'s 1-2 - I put a ton of leafy greens in, because the ice will pack them down.

Emerald Smoothie
Image Source: Vitamix

My favorite combo right now is: 1 orange (or 3 clementines), 1 banana, 1 apple, good sized handful of carrots, chia seeds, ginger, and 2 cups of spinach.  This formula will make enough for two large cups.  I'm able to split my smoothie with Mr. 3, but I wouldn't recommend saving it because it will start to turn brown once the fruits and veggies are exposed to air (green smoothie = yummy, brown smoothie =trash).

Although this formula is for Vitamix users, regular blender owners could probably omit the denser veggies in #2 and still use the rest of the formula.

Anyone else love their Vitamix?  Who's gotten on the smoothie band wagon?

Melinda's 2014 Goals

Briana and I have been discussing our goals for 2014.  Briana doesn't like the term "resolution," so I came up with "stuff we'd like to do before the year is out."  We tried to think up what we would like to achieve across different categories/concerns in our life.  Check back this afternoon for Briana's list!

Beauty: Learn how to curl my hair without burning off a chunk or looking like a china doll (my new curling iron is on its way!).  Continue the fight against wrinkles with increased use of facial sunscreen even in winter.

Health: Lose three pounds a month and get my upper body strong.  Even though I maintained my weight through the holidays, I have always, always wanted to lose more.  I find it's easier to set an exact small goal for weight loss rather than saying I'd like to lose 20 lbs at some point in 2014.  I also don't want to just lose weight.  I'm trying to work on my arms, so I don't get "the droop" later in life!

Finance: Pay off 40% of the remaining balance on my student loans.  Stick to my grocery, shopping, and gift budgets!  (We will be talking more about our financial goals later in the month.)  There will be babies at some point in the future, but not anytime soon.  However, I've determined I don't want to be making student loan payments at the same time I'm buying diapers.  Therefore, I'm taking an aggressive approach for the next two years to get them completely gone from my life.

Spiritual: Try a different volunteer activity.  Right now, Mr. 3 and I host a Bible study group for young married couples and work the newcomers table once a month.  I'd like to try a new church activity that helps the community outside our congregation.  Activities I'm considering: serving breakfast at the homeless shelter on Sunday morning, running a game night at the homeless shelter on a Friday, and tending the church community garden.

Creative: Make one new Vitamix recipe a week.  Mr. 3 and I L-O-V-E our Vitamix, but we tend to make the same wonderful recipes all the time.  I'd also like to make a scrapbook for 2014, because I realized that I have all these photos I never look at on my computer.

Intellectual: READ MORE BOOKS!  I used to be such a book nerd, but I have totally gotten away from that since leaving grad school.  I want to try to read a book a month and I think I'm going to try the online book club that A Beautiful Mess is hosting or look for a local DC book club to join.

Blog: Amp up our What to Wear and How to Host series!  I'm not sure exactly what this means yet, but I'd like to develop these two series for the blog so that we have better pictures and more thorough articles for all our fab readers!

I can't promise I will keep you updated on every single one of these goals (ex. If I burn a chunk of my hair off, I will tell no one.  Likewise, if I never get beyond Shirley Temple look, there will be no publicly available evidence.).  BUT, in addition to all of our other great content, I will be blogging about my experiences over the next year through product reviews for my beauty items, diet and exercise tips and tricks, recipes and sneak peaks at my scrapbook for my creative goals, book reviews, and continuously improving our signature series.  I hope you'll support us in 2014!  What are you working on this year?

Beating the Winter Weight Gain - Results!

I blogged a bit back in November about my tips for beating the winter weight gain and I gave you a status update in mid-December, but I'm happy to report that today I have maintained my weight through the holidays!!!  Wahoo!

In my earlier article, I wrote up a list of things I was going to try to do to keep the weight off.  I wound up doing some, not doing others at all, inconsistently implementing some tricks, and even trying a few more.  Here's a list of what worked and what didn't:

1. Religious calorie counting on days you don't have parties/events (1600 calories and daily weigh ins) - I kind of did this.  I did my daily weigh ins except when we were out of town and no scale was available, but calorie counting went out the door for the most part.  I did it maybe 1-2 days a week.  The biggest change that helped me keep the weight off was filling half my plate with veggies at most meals and switching up my dinners at home (Instead of bigger meals for dinner, we ate bigger at lunch.  Mr. 3 and I made veggie smoothies using our Vitamix and at a small snack like crackers and hummus for dinner.).

2. Eat something healthy before a party - I kind of did this.  I managed to keep my blood sugar from falling, but we only had one party (our Christmas brunch) and everything else was Christmas lunches.

3. Eat 3-4 small servings of things you truly want to eat at the party - I sorta did this.  Since we didn't have very many parties, most of my heavy calorie days came from eating out with our parents.  I tried to focus on the foods I really wanted to eat at those meals.  Mr. 3 and I also split food a lot this season - steak and a side at the Capital Grille, a quesadilla at the Mexican restaurant on Christmas Eve, steak on New Year's Eve.  BUT I also had a great lobster bisque, a ton of chips and salsa, and a whole lobster to myself on each of those occasions.  As I mentioned in #1, I also filled half my plate with veggies and took a scoopful of the 3-4 things I really wanted to eat.

4. Cut back on your everyday treats - I did this. I switched from half and half to 2% milk in my coffee.  I also switched my daily Liberte yogurt to a lower calorie Brown Cow yogurt (both are equally delicious and have no artificial sweetners!).

5. Eat seafood at corporate events - I did this.

6. Stick to wine or hard cider - I did this.

7. Plan out where you can eat when you are running errands or Christmas shopping now - I did this.

8. Add on 15 mins to your work out time or another workout a week. If you can't do that, try to go for a walk at lunch during your work days. Also, try and have a nice walk (so relaxing!) or jog (if you feel so inclined, I rarely do) on the major holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.  - I sorta did this.  I had zero gym time.  That's right.  Zero.  I also didn't go outside and walk except at Thanksgiving.  I got super lazy, but also felt super busy.  I did go on walks at Thanksgiving, but that's about it.

9. Take none and leave all - I sorta did this one.  We had some leftovers from our Christmas brunch, but I wound up throwing most of them away (leftover shrimp and grits = yuck).  I also had one bag of leftover toffee so I put that in a box with the other presents for my friend Marie.  I also left most of the holiday food at mom's house and at my father-in-laws.

10. Plan a non-meal event for your girlfriend get togethers - I sorta did this.  I met up with three different girlfriends at Christmas.  One for lunch (egg salad on wheat, half order of fries, and sparking water to drink), one for coffee (tall one pump hazelnut latte with skim milk), and one for a drink (stuck to one glass of hard cider)...but that's better than three meals out!

11. Eat what you want on the main days - Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.  - I did this.  Enough said.

12. Get back to your regular groove as soon as possible and don't beat yourself up - I'm working on this!  I'm going to share my goals for 2014 tomorrow, but I'm headed to the gym tonight...and really happy I don't have to buy new pants this weekend.

Did anyone else try out these tips?  What worked for you?  Let us know in the comments section below! 

Beating Winter Weight Gain Update

Just wanted to give y'all a quick update after writing my Beating Winter Weight Gain article.  I've successfully survived two Thanksgiving weekends with family (the first in NC for real Thanksgiving and the second during the following weekend in southwest VA...all we do is eat), one business holiday luncheon, tons of meals out while on the road and during my Christmas shopping, and my own Christmas brunch that I hosted yesterday (which you may have seen Instagram pictures on that, but more details to come later in the week).  I haven't gained any weight...hurray!  Now it's time for the home stretch....a week traveling to southwest VA, NC, and back followed by New Year's Eve.

How's everyone else doing?  Any luck or tips or tricks they have picked up?  Let me know!

Update: I maintained my weight through out the season! Read about which of my original ideas worked for me and which ones I abandoned here.

Beating the Winter Weight Gain

I've talked a bit before about dieting and weight loss in the past when I was trying to get in shape for my wedding.  Since getting married, I've put about 5 of the 20 lbs. I lost back on.  Which in the space of the year isn't awesome, but isn't tragic either.  I always get nervous this time of the year, because I'm already susceptible to weight gain let alone when there are Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes lurking at the register, the red Oreos are out, and those peppermint M&Ms haunt me everywhere....not to mention the dinners out with friends, increase in alcohol consumption, holiday dinners, and general lack of time to prepare a healthy meal.

So, I've been thinking about what my tactics are going to be this year during the "season of eating" (which for me begins Halloween and runs through Mr. 3's birthday which is January 15th - I never turn down birthday cake, even if it isn't my own).  My main goal is to just maintain the weight I'm at and let my standard January 1st New Year's Resolution (which is always to lose those last 15 lbs.) go into effect, but hopefully without the mass panic of saying I need to lose 15 lbs. PLUS all the weight I put on as I got merry with all my nearest and dearest.   I've heard all the tips and tricks that Weight Watchers and magazines like Self put out. Some are good, some don't do diddly for me.

My least favorite tip has to be the one about eating your dinner before you go to a party so you don't eat while you're at the party.  Um, news flash...I don't have to be hungry to eat a cookie or drink a pint of egg nog.  It's like jello...there's always room.  Plus, who wants to be the person who deprives themselves of all Christmas treats?  Um, not this Posh Purpose girl.

So, I've been thinking about what will work for me and hopefully these tips will help you too!  I told Briana about my article and she said I should promise to report back on the results in January.  Tricky cousin, wanting accountability.  BUT, I told her I was in.  While you will not be getting actual numbers, (Mr. 3 is a regular reader of this blog and some things should just remain a mystery in a marriage as far as I'm concerned) I will say whether I'm up, down (hahhahaha, good one!), or meeting my goal of just maintaining the weight I'm at now.  Here they are:

Posh Purpose's Kindly Suggestions on How to Still Fit in Your Pants Come January

1. Religious calorie counting on days you don't have parties/events - 1600 calories* and no more (I use an Android app called Fat Secret...horrible name, but decent app).  Weigh in daily to keep yourself honest.

2. Eat something healthy before a party - soup and salad if you have time or yogurt and nuts are both good options.  Although I don't believe in eating before you go to a party in order to not eat at the party is a good idea, I also don't think I want to have my blood sugar drop and find myself face first in a cheese platter either.  Been there, done that.

3. Eat 3-4 small servings of things you truly want to eat at the party - things that are special for Christmas time or you know are a specialty of the hosts....then don't eat them again at any other parties.  For example, I love egg nog, rum balls, and peppermint bark.  I could have a small cup of egg nog, 2-3 rum balls, and a piece of peppermint bark at a party.  At the next party, I would bypass these items and perhaps choose a scoop of hot crab dip, a small cup of apple cider, and a slice of pie.  Then bypass all of those items at any other parties.  Fill up on veggies and lean protein for the rest of your food selection.  Cold shrimp is a very good choice that you will often find this time of year.  My theory on this tip is that I will get to have all my favorite things without overloading my plate at each and every party.

4. Cut back on your everyday treats -  ex. if you are putting half and half in your coffee, switch to 2% for the next month.

5. Eat seafood at corporate events - My nutritionist once said that if you have to go into an event blind or without any ability to customize your food, go for fish.  Even if the fish is deep fried or sauteed in butter, the calorie count for fish starting out is lower than any of the other proteins.

6. Stick to wine or hard cider - Lots of taste, less calories than a mixed drink, classier than a shot, and no fat.

7. Plan out where you can eat when you are running errands or Christmas shopping now - For me, I know the meal combinations I can have at Chick-Fil-A (grilled chicken nuggets and small fry or spicy chicken sandwich - no bun - and small fry) and Panera Bread (bacon turkey bravo half sandwich and half salad or bowl of soup) which are readily accessible.  Other options for a sit down meal, are Olive Garden (soup, salad, and bread sticks) and Seasons 52 (no item on the menu is over 475 calories).  I would suggest looking at your local area where you plan on doing the most shopping and coming up with a game plan.  My nutritionist told me successful dieters have plans and people tend to gain weight the most when they are rushed for time and don't have a plan set in place.  That's how you wind up pulling through the Taco Bell line and ordering a burrito and two tacos with extra nacho sauce.

8. Add on 15 mins to your work out time or another workout a week.  If you can't do that, try to go for a walk at lunch during your work days.  Also, try and have a nice walk (so relaxing!) or jog (if you feel so inclined, I rarely do) on the major holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.  It will help you digest post-meal and it's a nice way to either spend time with family or get away from them (depending on your situation).

9. Take none and leave all - If you are having a party or hosting Christmas dinner, stock up on to-go containers.  If it's not healthy, it must go.  If you are attending a party, refuse to take anything.  You can "accidentally" leave it behind.  Whoopsies.

10. Plan a non-meal event for your girlfriend get togethers -  I usually go out to eat with my North Carolina girlfriends to exchange gifts and catch up.  This year, I will be suggesting coffee.  You can get a small drink (non-fat latte with cinnamon on top - caffeine & protein!) and if you can't stay away from the bakery case, split something with your friends. You'll save money and calories.  Other options would be to go bowling or ice skating.

11. Eat what you want on the main days - Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.  Chances are you probably won't be eating more than one big meal each of those days.  Even if you are eating 2,500 calories, you are doing it all at once and not three times that day.  You should also be able to rebound from 1-2 days of poor eating....it's the week long time frame of Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve to New Year's Day that I've noticed really make an impact.  I also don't see the point in eating low-cal versions of traditional foods - pumpkin pie with splenda is just not the same and my father would disown me if I asked him to use something like agave in the cranberries.  If you must exercise some sort of self control or you are attending multiple meals in one day - fill up on whatever main protein there is (ham, turkey, etc.) and the healthiest side (usually green beans).  You can have small scoops of all your favorite things and only eat the best offerings at each meal if you are going to multiple places (i.e. if your Aunt Gertrude's sweet potatoes are better than your granny's...don't tell, but don't eat either).

12. Get back to your regular groove as soon as possible and don't beat yourself up - I think even with these tricks I'm going to try, I may still gain 1-3 lbs between now and the New Year...but that's much less to beat myself up about and far fewer pounds to work off compared to the 20 billion people who join the gym and take all the parking spots/machines post-holiday 15 lb. binge.  I'll just go back to my regular schedule - I hope without having to buy new pants.

These are just some things that I've thought up that I think are going to help me...I'll let you know in January how it all worked out.  If you've got any great tips, feel free to share them!!!


I wrote a status update December 16 - so far no weight gained! And on January 2, I announced that I survived the holiday season without gaining any weight! Check out that post to see which of my tips above I found useful and which ones I abandoned.

* I'm not a licensed professional, so you should consult your doctor before starting any nutrition plan or exercise program.

A Married Girl's Recipe for the Single Girls Life: Quick and Easy Truffled Parmesan Pasta!

Even though I'm a married girl now, Mr. 3's business often takes him out of town and I find myself reverting back to my single girl habits (random meals of the things I want to eat that often don't ~go~ together....avocado with hot sauce and a bowl of cereal anyone?) including trying to save myself a trip to the grocery store by throwing what I have in the cabinets together.

I rummaged through the cabinets, craving carbs, and I found a bag of veggie pasta from Trader Joe's which I had bought on impulse a few months back.  I usually try to stay away from pasta, but after a quick check, I found that 3/4 cup dry pasta was about 200 calories.  Typically, pasta servings are measured after they are cooked, not before.  Since pasta basically doubles in size when it's cooked...I basically got about 1.5 cups of pasta!  That led me to create this recipe which is perfectly sized for 1!

Quick and Easy Truffled Parmesan Pasta
3/4 cup dry Trader Joe's Organic Vegetable Radiatore Pasta
Olive oil (You will need an olive oil sprayer like the Misto or this Misto)  
Parmesan cheese  to taste
Truffled Sea Salt (a little goes along way!)

Prepare pasta according to directions.  Drain and put a small layer in the bottom of an individual bowl. Spray pasta with olive oil and season with truffled sea salt and Parmesan.  Repeat in layers. Add pepper if you are that sort of person.  :)

This is what you wind up with:

Quick & Easy Truffled Parmesan Pasta
Personal Photo

The truffled sea salt makes the dish sooo rich and wonderful! If I had a can of mushrooms and some sundried tomatoes I would have thrown those in as well to bulk up the pasta with some veggies.  It was super quick to make and super yummy.*  By misting the olive oil onto the pasta, I got a nice flavor with fewer calories.  I also used a shave Parmesan cheese blend that is 20 calories for 1 tbsp and I used probably about 4 tbsp on the dish.  The key is to use a really good quality cheese you need less (I like Bel Gioioso Salad Blend which you can get in big bags at BJs.  The cheese from the green Kraft can is probably NOT a good choice).  I think you are getting the whole dish for around 350 calories depending how heavy you go with the cheese and olive oil.  Definitely a tasty treat to take your mind off of any wedding diet woes!

If you give it a try let me know what you think!  Let us know if you have any yummy recipes to share when the hubby/man/life partner is away!

* I would advise you not to make more than one individual serving.  I practically licked the bowl and if there had been a whole pot on the stove of it already made...I would have landed face first.

Product Review: Victoria's Secret Sports Bras

In my quest for wedding weight loss, I've decided to share a few of the things that I've begun to heavily rely on for my workouts.

One of my former step aerobics instructors told me that your biggest investments in workout wear should be in 1) your shoes (we only get one set of natural knee caps) and 2) your sports bra.  As you work out, your upstairs lady bits are going to jiggle (some of us more than others) and as they do, the connective tissues that support your boobs will weaken (bad) and cause major sagging (ick!) if not properly supported by a good sports bra.  Whether you are well endowed or part of the IBT Committee, it matters not, boob sag big or small is sad.

Since I like my boobs to stay closer to my armpits than my belly button I have been on the search for a great new bra that would provide ample support for running, tennis (when I eventually start playing again), zumba, and step aerobics.  I have to say that I'm ABSOLUTELY in love with Victoria's Secret Runway Sport's Bra.

VS Runway Sports Bra
$44.50
Image from Victoria's Secret

Your chest will not move.  I don't know what magic is woven into the fabric, but the fact that you can order by your usual bra size is so helpful!  It's got an underwire and some light padding (which helps avoid that awful smushed mono-boob look, hurray!).  It's also made out of a moisture wicking fabric which is waaaaay better than your standard cotton sports bra.

It's a bit pricey, so I've been trying to buy one new bra a month using one of those $10 off any bra coupons that come in the mail all the time (there's usually a free undie coupon attached as well).  As the bra band starts to wear out (which all bras do), you can adjust the back to get some more mileage out of the same bra.  The way I also like to look at it is that it is a $35 (with coupon) monthly investment to ward off a breast lift down the road (ick!).

Has anyone else out there found a great workout product that we need to know about?  Let us know!

Munchie Monday: Avocado Smoothie (?!?!)

Briana and I have a deep and abiding love for avocados...mmmm....obsession actually might be a better word.  While we love our guacamole and chips, we will also take them plain with a fork.  We spent many a night eating just an avocado for dinner (with lots of berries for dessert!), topped with a little bit of Lawry's seasoning salt (aka my special magic), tons of lime juice, and two kinds of hot sauce drizzled over the top.  On the rare occasion I have had avocado ice cream and I loved it!  However, sadly without an ice cream machine (which I'm better off without) this treat doesn't come my way very often.

In my quest for wedding weight loss, I've been trying to find ways to get more veggies in my life at more meals to fill up my tummy.  In my quest for lifelong happiness, I've been trying to find ways to get more avacado in my life.  See how these two coincide?

I recently came across this recipe for an avocado smoothie with about 215 calories and it is yummy (don't knock it until you try it!):

Avocado Smoothie (for 1) 
1/2 an avocado (squirt lime juice on the leftover half and leave the seed inside, it will keep it from turning brown)
juice from 1/2 a lime
1 granny smith apple cored and chopped
1/2 cup water

Blend together all ingredients.  If you need it to be cold, throw a few ice cubes in.  When making smoothies for one, I recommend shelling out the $30 for a personal sized blender like this Bella Cucina model from Target (I bought mine on sale for $20).  It's really really easy to clean and you save time in the morning because the blending jar can also be used as a to-go cup (it comes with lids).

If you have any yummy wonderful suggestions for using avocados, please let us know!  We eat them anyway we can get them (except for Briana, she won't always eat them in Boston because they are too far from their natural habitat).

Wedding Diet Woes

Briana asked me awhile back to do up a post on wedding weight loss....and by awhile back, I mean like August, right after Mr. 3 proposed...which is about when I started panicking about being a fat bride.  Now, I must say that everyone tells me I'm not fat, but like most of those mean girls that we carry around in our heads...my inner voice tells me different and I have never felt slim or trim in my entire life despite spending 15 years in dance class growing up.  This is an extremely hard post for me to write and I know it's not our usual type of blog post....but I feel like there are so many brides and women in general who are going through the same thing, that I thought it needed to be written.

I packed on about 20 lbs of "love fluff" (which is what I call it when you start dating someone and you spend more time with the person snuggling than you do on the treadmill) after Mr. 3 and I started dating through a combination of eating out more, vacationing, stress, and also a couple of non-life threatening medical concerns that the doctors either refuse to treat or don't really know how to treat which make me extremely tired (I have PCOS and subclinical hypothyroidism...feel free to google).  I won't go through the medical details here, but to say it has been challenging....I can't even describe.

I'll also spare you all of the stops and starts I've had and all the many many many diets and exercise routines that I have tried, but I refuse to take diet pills or do extreme crazy workout routines because they simply aren't sustainable.  I use Oprah as my guide on this...I remember watching one of her shows where she was talking about her workout and diet routine and how "we too could see results like Oprah."  Well, the woman was doing two-a-days at the gym and not eating dinner if she didn't get home until after 7 PM (she brewed herself a cup of tea with lemon to keep from knawing Stedman's arm in his sleep).  Oprah said if she got hungry during the day she would have 5 almonds to keep her satisfied.  HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED AT 5 ALMONDS?!?!?  I have certainly tried this trick (like so many others) and let me tell you 5 almonds doesn't do diddly squat.  While I think Oprah is a great lady at any size you find her...she has clearly fallen off the wagon (and freely admits it).  Diet pill (which I'm not saying Oprah has used) are simply so unhealthy I'm surprised they haven't been outlawed.  They either don't work, have horrible side effects, or later we find out that they are a close cousin to the crack and speed you find on the street corner.

All fall, I stressed and worried and failed miserably at losing weight by myself.  My exercising came in spurts and I was propping myself up on caffeine and sugar to get through the work days.  I tried on wedding dresses at a few stores and felt depressed/tearful every time I looked in the mirror because 1) the majority of the samples were a size 8 or 10, which is a 4 and 6 in a street size and 2) the dresses that did come in my size were not what I was looking for at all. 

Mr. 3 was actively supporting me through all of this and doing his own research on the side to try and help me.  He finally suggested that I see a nutritionist, because at the bare minimum it might be a way to handle the PCOS symptoms.

Enter Katherine Tallmadge, nutritionist extraordinaire.  I started seeing her the week before Christmas (iiiiii know...what was I thinking, dieting at Christmas time???).  Katherine has written her own book and appears regularly on news shows and in the Washington Post.  I explained all my issues to her and she was so helpful and kind.  We mapped out a weight loss plan which involves me wearing a pedometer so that I can make sure I'm getting at least 12,000 steps a day and also tracking what I eat to make sure I don't have more than 1,600 calories in a day.  She also has a background in behavioral therapy which she uses to help me figure out what modifications I can make to my life so that I can get my steps in and not exceed my calorie quota for the day.

Let me tell you though...I'm not a success story yet.  Since January 1st (my goal for the first two weeks of our appointments was just to get through the holidays without gaining any weight...which I accomplished!), I've lost about 6-7 lbs.  While I'm happy with any weight loss and I feel a definitely difference in my body, I've got a long way to go and time is running out.  I would like to lose an additional 30 lbs between now and the wedding and some days I really don't know how I'm ever going to do that.  I get up at 5 AM to get to the gym 4-5 days a week to put in an hour long workout and I track my calories.  I do cheat a little on this from time to time, but I've gotten a lot better in the past month and I'm staying close to the 1,600 calories about 90% of the time.  I've got an appointment with a new doctor to make sure that it isn't my medical condition that's holding me back, but if they still refuse to treat...I'm not sure what to do.

I want to feel really beautiful on my wedding day and (I'm not ashamed to admit a little vanity) I want my guests to say "she looks stunning."  While my mother, Briana, and Mr. 3 all say I have nothing to worry about, I can't help feeling that I will look at my wedding photos and just see the X number of pounds that I didn't lose in time.  Katherine says that everyday you should take 5 minutes to visualize what your goal is to keep yourself motivated.  I think it sounds a little touchy-feely myself, but it doesn't cost me any money to give it a go...so I try and picture either myself at my bridal fittings with the seamstress saying "I don't know how we are ever going to take this dress in!" or my favorite....walking down the aisle slim and trim (and tan) towards Mr. 3.

I'll keep y'all posted about any tips, tricks, or successes I have, but if you have any words of encouragement for a bridal dieter, let me know!  I certainly need them!