How to Have Biggest Loser Results

How do the contestants on The Biggest Loser do it? First of all, they are cut off from society. No phones, internet, or cable TV. They do not have to go to work, take care of the kids, or run errands. All they have to do is lose weight.

 

Food

The women are on a 1,200 calorie per day diet, and an 1,800 calorie per day diet for the men. There is no butter, white flour, or white sugar in the kitchen. They eat 3 meals and 2 snacks per day, and do not go more than 4 hours without eating. They are allowed one cheat day, where they women can max out at 2,000 calories and the men at 3,000. This is still a huge difference as many of them eat a couple thousand calories at one sitting before going on the show.

Exercise

All contestants work out at least 4 hours per day. 4 hours! They do a combination of cardio and weight training, and have different classes during the day, such as kickboxing. Many contestants are in the gym without the trainers, putting in extra time. Stretching is also an important component of their exercise regimen, and helps to prevent injuries. You may also notice them icing their joints and muscles after a tough workout.  

Education

The contestants on the show learn about nutrition and how to handle their emotions. Many people use food as a way to deal with emotions, so they will not keep the weight off without resolving deep emotional problems and learning how to deal with difficulties.  

How can you do it at home?

It is not realistic for most of us to exercise 4+ hours per day. That being said, we can all find an hour. Instead of watching TV, going online, or sitting on the sofa, get up and get out! 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening is a good way to sneak in an hour of exercise every day. If you have not had an exercise routine recently, start with walking or (if you are able) jogging. Add some weight training. If you do not have access to weights, use your body weight. Do pushups, sit-ups, and squats. Just make sure you always stretch after a workout.

Eat better. Cut out the bad food and replace it with healthful choices. Swap out a beef burrito for a black bean taco, white pasta for wheat or veggie pasta, or sugary cereal with oatmeal. Eat a salad before lunch and dinner. The veggies are great for you and will help fill you up before diving in to your higher calorie entrée. Although I am a big fan of Weight Watchers, you don’t have to count points or calories to lose weight. Some people (like me) thrive on control and work best this way. Others can simply just make better choices and be happy with the results. 

Don't forget the water! Aim to drink half your weight in ounces per day, and increase your water intake when you exercise. 

How to Remove Plaque Buildup

How to Remove Plaque Buildup from Teeth

Have a little time before your next dental cleaning, but want to give your teeth a clean boost? Try this method to get the fuzzy off your teeth! This method also helps to whiten your teeth. Be sure not to do this regularly, as baking soda can break down the enamel on your teeth.

1. Pre-rinse with a hydrogen peroxide and water mixture for 30 seconds.
2. Put some baking soda on your dry toothbrush, and brush your teeth like normal. For a guideline click here.
3. Thoroughly rinse your mouth.
4. Rinse with the peroxide mixture one more time.
5. Rinse with water again, or your favorite mouthwash to remove the peroxide taste.

Make sure to have your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist every 6 months for optimal oral health.

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Brownies

Yummy Peanut Butter & Chocolate Brownies

These are delicious, and have just enough peanut butter to add flavor, without overpowering the chocolate. 

Ingredients:

4 (1 oz) squares unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cup butter
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup milk 1 cup flour

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.2. Microwave the chocolate squares and butter about 2 minutes until melted.
3. Add eggs, sugar, and peanut butter. Mix well.
4. Stir in milk and flour.
5. Pour into a greased 13x9 baking dish or brownie pan.
6. Bake for 35 minutes. Do not overcook! Brownies should be a little moist when you remove them from the oven.

Homemade Hummus

Hummus made from scratch! This is so much cheaper than store bought.

It is very easy to make your own hummus. After trying many recipes, I found out my hummus tastes best when I follow my taste buds!

Ingredients:

Dry garbanzo beans
Garlic
Lemon juice
Tahini
Salt

I don't include amounts of each, because everyone likes their hummus made differently. 

Steps:

1. Cook your dry beans according to package directions.
2. Put cooked beans in your blender or food processor with a splash of lemon juice, a clove or two of garlic, a couple tablespoons of tahini, and a pinch of salt. Blend the ingredients until smooth, adding some water when and if necessary.
3. Give it a taste! Add more garlic, lemon juice, salt, and tahini as needed. 

Which Type of Cloth Diaper is Best for Me?

Most people have a preference when it comes to cloth diapers. Here is a basic overview of the different types.

All in ones (AIO)- As the name implies, these diapers are a cover and insert all in one. Sometimes the insert is sewn in, and sometimes it snaps in. While these are very easy for some people, others do not like the longer drying times. These diapers also tend to be more expensive than others.

All in twos (AI2)- This system is a cover and insert. The insert lays in the cover against the baby's skin. They are usually attached with Velcro, snaps, or flaps build into the diaper. These are great because you only have to replace the insert during the day, unless the cover gets dirty. Babies with sensitive skin may not be able to wear AI2s, as the wet insert stays against their skin.

Fitteds with covers- A fitted diaper is not waterproof, but is very absorbent. Some are made with a pocket that you can stuff for extra absorption. They need a waterproof cover for the outside to prevent leaks. Like the AI2s, these may not be best for babies with sensitive skin. They are also bulkier than other methods.

Pockets- These diapers have a waterproof outer layer, and a build in stay dry pocket that you stuff with absorbent inserts. The materials used for the pocket wick moisture away from the baby into the insert, keeping your baby's skin dry. This is great for babies with sensitive skin, although some moms dislike stuffing the pockets.

I would recommend trying a couple of each system you think would fit your needs. I have tried all of the above, and currently only use pockets and one brand on AIO.

Bye Bye Cable Bill!

In an effort to cut expenses, my husband and I decided to get rid of cable. We were inspired by a few of our friends who have also cut their cable plans. Our bill for cable alone was $60 per month, and was set to increase to $90 when our promotional period was up. The first thing I did was make a list of the shows on our DVR list. I realized quickly we could watch almost all of our favorite current shows either online for free, or with Hulu Plus. The only show we are unable to watch is The Walking Dead. Luckily, my mom lives close by and will be saving the episodes in her DVR for us to watch.

 Next, we signed up for a free week with Hulu Plus to make sure we liked it. So far, so good! I called our cable company today and cancelled our subscription. We lost our discount on our internet since we bundled, but our bill was lowered $45 per month after everything was all said and done. We had to pay a $135 cancellation fee since our contract was not up for another 9 months, but we still saved ourselves $270 in that time! Hulu Plus is only $7.99 per month and I can cancel at any time. 

Don't want to get rid of cable but hate paying the bill? Call your provider and tell them you can't afford the service anymore. Before the representative cancelled my subscription, she offered me a discount on my already discounted plan.  

My total savings? $37/month, and $67/month beginning in November.

What's The Best Diet?

Frankly speaking, the best diet is not a diet. It is a lifestyle change. Usually we gain weight because we are eating too much junk and not getting enough exercise. Ugh, the E word. We'll address that later.


When I was a young(er) adult, I could eat what I wanted with little to no repercussion. I didn't have to exercise (although I was active), count calories, watch portions, etc. Then I made a career change and took an office job. I went from being on my feet 40 hours per week to sitting at a desk most of the time. I gained about 5 pounds in the first few months and plateaued out. I didn’t try to lose weight as I still felt happy with my size. All that changed when I got married. 

Having a husband around who loved food led to eating more, eating out, and eating more often. I gained about 20-25 pounds in less than a year. Yikes! I had already made the switch to a vegetarian lifestyle, but was filling the void left by the absence of meat with carbohydrates. Not the good ones, either… Pasta, pizza, breads…. I decided I needed to lose weight and, like most, wanted to do it immediately. I tried only eating carbs in the morning, and filling the rest of the day with veggies. Fail. Lemonade diet? Fail. Atkins? Being a vegetarian already set me up for failure for this one. Counting calories? Fail. I tried almost everything short of prepackaged food programs.

One day I saw a Weight Watchers commercial and decided to give it a try. I signed up online because I could not picture myself going to meetings. If you are unfamiliar with this program, it is pretty simple. You can eat whatever you want. Each food is assigned a point value based on its protein, carbohydrate, fat, and fiber content. Each day you can eat X amount of points, with bonus weekly points to use on days you go over your allotment. The first few days were hard. I had to enter all my foods into my online tracker. Once I had my favorites programmed, it was very easy. The site keeps track of your daily and weekly points, as well as rewarding you with activity points for exercising. I lost 6 pounds the first week, and continued to lose weight at a healthy rate over the next few weeks. Soon, I got really good at knowing a food’s point value before even having to track it. I cancelled my online membership and now carry a small notepad so I can track my daily points.

I cannot stress enough how much I LOVE this program! It is designed to teach you HOW to eat. You quickly realize you can have pancakes for breakfast and pizza for lunch, but dinner is going to be lacking (fruits and most vegetables are 0 points and considered “free foods” so you’ll never starve yourself). I learned that my problem is portion control, and Weight Watchers really helped me learn how to properly portion my meals. I would strongly recommend this plan to anyone having trouble losing weight.