Blog Access Wide Open Now

Hi All - Some of you have indicated that you can't access and view the blog, so I've decided to remove the restrictions in place so that anyone can view it on the internet. Simply click on fitpals.blogspot.com to view it.

That said, I've deleted my photo and some of you may wish to do the same by logging into your accounts. I have also deleted any previous posts of a more personal or identifying nature. Let me know if you have any concerns and I will modify the blog immediately to address them.

If you are unable to post comments or make posts to the blog, please let me know. Also, please look for Diana and I on Spark. We're all psyched up and ready to go.

100-Calorie Snack Cookbook

Click on title to view book at Amazon.com

Here is another of my favorite cookbooks. A photo for nearly every recipe and one of the rare books where I want to make nearly everything in it. Simple, quick, tasty stuff.

Recipes from Whole Foods Market

Click on title to go to Whole Foods Market website to view recipes.

Since Whole Foods Market is only found in large metropolitan centers in Canada, I've only been to Whole Foods a few times. I visited their illustrious salad bar the other day and filled the enviro-friendly takeout container (why can't all places use these wonderful biodegradable containers???) with salads and whole grain recipes I've never even imagined. For $5, I had a large take away meal. That is going to be my new eating-on-the-run source for meals when I'm at work. My only regret is not discovering it sooner. Now I'm trying to eat like that at home.  

Agave Nectar: Health Sweetener or Health Disaster?

Click on title or link to view article.

Agave Nectar Blood Sugar Impact Not Well Researched

Click on title to view article.

If you've been using Agave syrup, like me, believing it to be lower on the glycemic index than other sweeteners, then you'll want to read this article. It also provides a worthwhile cautionary note on hype surrounding other so-called "superfoods".

Kettlebell Workout DVDs

I decided to take Sue's advice and invest in some kettlebells. I have been loathe to resume your garden-variety weight training with free weights and wanted to try something different. So I ordered the DVD show above, as well as the Kettlenetics workout DVD from QVC. The Kettlenetics kit offered on QVC consists of 5 DVDs and a 4lb kettlebell and costs $40. There is a Kettlenetics package offered on Amazon.com that offers 2 DVDs, a 4lb kettlebell and costs $31. To find out more about each, just click on the links to view the respective sites. 

Power Body: Kettlebell Bootcamp with Angie Miller (kettle bell)

Kettlenetics Slim & Tone Body System w/5 DVDs &4lb Weight

Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook

This is another fabulous book by the same author in the previous post. I wish it came in hard cover like the Eat Clean Cookbook but it's also full of equally great recipes, many of which are plant based and all are based on ingredients that are as natural and unadulterated as possible. Click on the post title to view the book on Amazon.

Eat Clean Cookbook (by Tosca Reno)

This is my favourite new cookbook. I thought this was going to be some gimmicky new diet but have to say I was blown away by the recipes in this book. The focus of all is all natural ingredients, heavy on plant based recipes and no white flour, white sugar, etc. This is one of the rare cookbooks that I own where I want to make at least half the recipes in the book.You can find it on Amazon by clicking on the post title.

Nice new format! And other things ....

I like the new format of the blog, Nicole.

It looks like you took down the post the other day before I had a chance to respond to it. You mentioned that you always lose motivation once you've lost 15 lbs.

I'VE BEEN THERE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE! I would always do this for 3 months and that was all I could manage. I'd lose 15-25 lbs and then get overconfident, and it would just come back on again - and more. I can't tell you how many times I went through this. At least half a dozen times, I'm sure. This is the longest, by far, that I've hung in there, and I can say the reason I'm doing better this time is because of all the previous times I've tried. NOT just that there was anything special or different about this particular program, but that ***I*** was different and more ready this time. Practice, persistence, and trying new things - and figuring out the things that work FOR YOU. That's what I preach.

If I had to guess, I'd say the main reason people haven't posted here lately is that they are in that same boat as you (and that I've been in before) and feeling guilty every time they think about it. I didn't see any of our old original classmates at the last Vtrim maintenance meeting. Maybe for the same reason?

Sometime soon, I'm going to make the switch to Spark. My husband loves that place. Just a thought, but maybe instead of this blog, we could form a group over there? I don't know how it works, but I assume they have discussion forums. I can't remember if you're already on Spark. But If you (or anybody still reading this) has an account there, please let me know!

Recipes for Health (NY Times)

Click title to view page/recipes.

Apologies, link doesn't appear to work within the e-mail but will work if you click on title on blog page.

4 Shocking Secrets About Fast Food

Click title to view article.

How Exercising Keeps Your Cells Young (NY Times)

Click on title (link) to view article.

Sugar - The Bitter Truth

Click on title to watch video.

Best 90 minute presentation I've ever listened to. Don't let the biochemistry bog you down - it merely supports what I've long believed to be true. Will definitely make me read food labels in a different light. After viewing this, I'm going to take a stab at 'clean eating' (ie, taking a break from any processed foods to see how I end up feeling).