Helpful Hints And Handy Tips

MsMarvel · March 10th, 2008, 07:07 PM

I know there is probably a better place for this but since we have so many girls doing Linda's challenge who are not familiar with forums, I though it would be much simpler to keep to under the journal area.

So this is a place for everyone to chip in and give away their little secrets as to how they stay focused, meal prep, time management or in other words anything and everything that helps make their life a little easier.

Here are a few to start.

Plan ahead. Take a few minutes to work out your meals for the week so that you pick up everything you need when you do groceries. It is much easier to stay on track when you have what you need.

Make extra. If I am cooking anything up be it rice, pasta, browning ground beef, chicken breasts, for dinner that night I always cook enough to last me several more days.

I make my meal plan as simple as possible and add variety by adding spices.

When cooking my chicken- I line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil then place a wire cooling rack that I bought at the dollar store on top, lightly sprayed with Pam. Place the chicken breast on the rack. Sprinkle with different spices (don't do all of them the same). And bake. Clean up is easy, just toss the foil away and cookie sheet is ready to go for next time.

I take care of the kids and myself first, housework can wait.
CLEAN HOUSES NEVER LAST, HUGS AND KISSES DO
As long as the place is clean, I don't worry about the mess

Here is a tip for those of us living in snowy/icy areas. Place a shopping bag or a shower cap over your side mirrors of your car to keep them from icing up.

If you miss a meal or cheat, don't beat yourself up over it. Just get back on track as quick as possible and keep moving forward.

Plan you meals so they work for you!!! No sense planning a meal that you need to heat up and sit down to eat if you know you only have a few minutes. That only leads to missed meals.

I use protein powder a lot. I know they say whole meals are the best, but as per above note, I would end up missing a bunch of meals and then gorging out at the end of the day so I don't let it bother me. I order my protein in bulk over the internet from trueprotein.com. They have a lot of selection, great prices and if you want I can give you my discount code so you save %5 off your order. There stuff comes shipped in heavy duty plastic bags so you do not waste money on packaging. I use containers and scoops that I had from before. I set aside an evening and measure out all my protein into small glad containers and keep them in a cupboard. In the morning, everything I need for the day is all there ready to go.

Same goes for my supplements. Due to my fibro and my training I have to make sure I get extra vitamins and minerals. I went to the dollar store and picked me up some pill containers and once a week I make them all up. They also sit in my cupboard ready for each day.

I have a separate dresser for my work out stuff. Everything I like to wear to the gym from socks and underwear to my shorts and tops (and gym towels) all are found in one place so I can pack my gym bag quickly.

All my toiletry stuff that I need for the gym (I shower there to save on water and gas bill, plus my gym has a steam sauna and really nice showers - jets that come at you from the side as well as from above) I keep in my gym bag. I buy extra of everything so I never have to scramble to get ready or find out I forgot my razor after I already lathered up my legs

I have lots more and I'm sure everyone has ideas too. I am off to the gym, so looking forward to that sauna today.

Hope these help and looking forward to seeing other ideas, I could certainly use some ideas as to how to get teenage boys to clean up after themselves

MsMarvel · March 10th, 2008, 11:16 PM

One more thing before I go to bed. I went out and bought me a $30 Casio sports watch at Wal Mart. It has three alarm settings and a count down feature. I set the alarms for my main meals. Then I set the count down for 2 or three hours and as soon as I start eating I activate the count down to remind me when to have my snack. I get so caught up in my work that without this I would end up going all day without eating. It took me a while to get used to it. At first, when the alarm went off I would say to myself "I will just finish this".....and next thing I knew the next alarm was going off. Now, when it goes off, I eat. Even my coworkers supportive, yesterday we were in a meeting and my alarm went off and my boss let me go get my meal and eat it while we finished up.

Which leads me to another thing. MAKE SURE EVERYONE CLOSE TO YOU KNOWS YOUR GOALS. They can act as buffers when others try to "bully" you into having something you don't want. They even act as buffer when you have a weak moment. My kids know I have a weakness for Nibbs Super Licorice. When ever we are at WalMart I would buy a bag and it would be gone before we even got home. Now, Nicholas will take my hand and lead me past the goody section and reminds how well I am doing.

**tooncesthecat** · March 11th, 2008, 06:53 AM

I must say, MsMarvel, you have really jumped into EF with form! I really enjoy your postings and the information you have shared is valuable. Hope to see you around here for some time!

**gunshowbabe** · March 11th, 2008, 09:26 AM

Which leads me to another thing. MAKE SURE EVERYONE CLOSE TO YOU KNOWS YOUR GOALS. They can act as buffers when others try to "bully" you into having something you don't want. They even act as buffer when you have a weak moment. My kids know I have a weakness for Nibbs Super Licorice. When ever we are at WalMart I would buy a bag and it would be gone before we even got home. Now, Nicholas will take my hand and lead me past the goody section and reminds how well I am doing.[/quote]

Tell me about it! My whole family knows I'm big into fitness now... My mom is the best cook in the world though, so everytime I go to her house to visit there is always something tempting! THe other day I turned down a couple of meals and my sisters teased me a little but didn't push it... Over all I know what bad food is worth to me now... it took a while to get that way... falling down and getting back up, but once you are used to it you continue to go with it since it just fits soo easily into your new lifestyle. I always think of how guilty I will feel if I cheat. It's not like eating a candy bar behind my fiance's back and getting away with it- it's the regret and guilty feeling I have within myself and the disappointment in myself that stops me now. You sound like you are doing great!! Welcome to the forum by the way!

**MissytroN** · March 11th, 2008, 09:59 AM

Cool thread idea! I'm going to contribute with a small yet appropriate quote:

'The more you know, the more you grow'

Coz Extreme Fitness rox! Never stop learning!

xx

**gunshowbabe** · March 11th, 2008, 10:04 AM

Man is that the truth!!

**Belsicilia** · March 11th, 2008, 11:24 AM

Awesome thought for a thread!! Miss marveloussssssssssssssssssssssss you rock

I will surely think of something to add here, nothing noteworthy is coming yet to my mind.

I however would love to know if any women here deal with emotional eating or relapses of it. I sometimes get caught in it and I know it can be very destructive. I ahve learned better ways to deal with emotions, so I am very proud of my self coming so far. But every now and then something can set me off. Any suggestions?

**gunshowbabe** · March 11th, 2008, 12:15 PM

it will only take time...it used to happen to me a lot when I first started... I would have the "just one wont hurt" mentality.. but it does set you back.... It's really important to understand dieting and having a schedule in place for your meals and workouts... It really does get easier though, you just have to stick through it.. when you fail just come back with twice the determination to not let it happen again. After time it's just part of a lifestyle not a goal routine...

RepMerryRep · March 13th, 2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsMarvel

When cooking my chicken- I line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil then place a wire cooling rack that I bought at the dollar store on top, lightly sprayed with Pam. Place the chicken breast on the rack. Sprinkle with different spices (don't do all of them the same). And bake. Clean up is easy, just toss the foil away and cookie sheet is ready to go for next time.

Thanks MsMarvel for this one tip alone. I tried it Tuesday and this is a wonderful method. I used my halogen toast oven it was quick and easy to do. I had even adding different spices to a pkg of chicken breast and then pan grilling them a few at a time and cleaning up the pan in between flavors this was much easier and quicker! I even made up some kabobs with fish, shrimp and veggies and broiled them on the rack....which I serve over brown rice cooked with chicken broth and celery and seasonings. Yum! Thanks for the inspiration.

MsMarvel · March 16th, 2008, 09:01 PM

Check out the post I just made under Supplements Discussion - for those who order online. For anyone looking for selection and great prices, have a look see.

**wildstang** · March 16th, 2008, 09:30 PM

keep up the motivation and just remember diet is key to everything. as far as when ive met my protein and carb, calorie allowance for the day when dieting i throw bunches of veggies in the mix to use as fillers and it keeps me from feeling hungry and you cant go wrong using veggies that way.