Miss Moon Gets Healthy.... And TOTALLY Rewards Herself with Food!!

I know, I know... I've written in the past about how you shouldn't reward yourself with food, and I'm proud to say I've stuck by that resolution. But....

Rather than dedicate a whole paragraph to an excuse or any other justification I pulled out of my bum, I'm just going to post a picture of this:

That, ladies and gentlemen is a GREEN TEA LAVA CAKE. Say it with me, y'all: green...tea...lava...cake.

Everything about that makes me scream "Get in mah stomach!!", but even though I discovered this culinary proof that there is a Divine presence in the Universe that loves us weeks ago, I haven't magically materialized to Spot Dessert Bar here in NYC to partake. Oh no...

I've decided that I'm going to make a little deal with myself. If I go to the gym 10 times starting this week, I will treat myself to this confection next month.

Am I a huge hypocrite? Yes... is it backsliding? Absolutely....

But look at that picture!!! ROTFLMAO

Miss Moon Gets Healthy: September Stats

I did it, y'all! I kept the promise I made to myself at the end of August. To paraphrase the song, I picked myself up, dusted myself off... and started all over again. I had a great month, to be honest.

This month, I am keeping momentum going. I've put myself to the challenge of walking at least 20 miles a week, and I aim to stick to that goal. I really need to improve the food I eat, as I've slacked more than a little bit. This month, I will work my arse off to improve this, too.

Me in my "Post Walk Un-Pretty" glory!! LOL

I am looking forward to the challenge, as I feel like I have the endurance required to achieve my goal for the year!!! Super duper close to it, can't turn back now!!

Wanna Wanna Wednesday... FitPlate Serving Size Portion Control Plate

This week's Wanna Wanna Wednesday is very much a Miss Moon Gets Healthy collaboration. I am doing great on my journey. The one area of improvement I recognize is that I need to master the art of portion control. I suck at it!!

This most often comes into practice when eating dinner. What I usually do now is put way too little on my plate, which results in me be still hungry a few hours after my meal! When I found out that there are specifically designed plates for portion control, I was very very excited!! There are literally dozens of these things on the market, but FitPlate ($20.90, Amazon.com) caught my eye. For a lot of reasons...

I like the fact that the product claims that will help in controlling my portions (Which is goal #1) and balancing my dinner with foods from different food groups (Which I do anyway, but its all good!). 

What really caught my eye is that printed on the plate are reminders of the food options available for each food group, highlighting the very best foods in each group (In gold). 

According to their official website, " FitPlate takes the guesswork out of what to eat and how much to eat. Simply build a meal on your FitPlate and you’re done." Sounds good to me! LOL

Miss Moon Gets Healthy: And YES... She Has Snacks, Too!!

Hello, my name is Audrey... and, I like snacks! There. I've said it. I've given up on Mickey D's, I've given up on my beloved Snapple drinks and occasional Sprites... but do not ask me to forgo snacks entirely... I will cut you!! LOL

The good news is, I've recently discovered I don't have to! What was once a horrible feeling of deprivation (with the one or two relapses... I'm among friends, I'll admit it!) has turned into a beautiful moment of clarity when I came to the realization that I can eat healthily and enjoy treats that feel decadent... although they really aren't.

For this post, I will share four of my favorite go to snack choices: two sweet and two savory. And believe it or not, each of these treats are under 200 calories!

I've always enjoyed watermelon, but I must admit... It was never my favorite. I was always a cantaloupe girl, thanks to my Aunt Jo Ann, who would eat a slice of cantaloupe, toast and a cup of tea for breakfast all the time when I was growing up. She probably still does.

I recently read that watermelon is not only great way to trick your mind into thinking it's getting a sweet treat, it's totally good for you and is only 94 calories for a cup of the melon diced!

I am a potato chip junky... I love chips and can say quite wholeheartedly that they are my favorite thing to snack on. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a tried and true potato chip that is low in calories and won't fill my body with salt, salt, and more salt. Special K Cracker Chips are a nice alternative.

They aren't great, mind you. You pretty much know you are not eating potato chips (They are like a rice cake/ potato chip hybrid) but to enjoy 30 chips for 110 calories.. I'll take it! LOL

I do not play around with my fudge pops. Even before Getting Healthy, I avoided them because they can very easily become an obsession with me. When I spotted these Low Fat Greek Frozen Yogurt Fudge Bars from Jala, I was IMMEDIATELY suspicious about the taste. I mean it contains active probiotis, it's only 110 calories, low fat... how good can they taste?!?!?

My friends... these things are THE BOMB!!!!! After walking twice a day, getting hot and sweaty in the process... nothing soothes my sore muscles like these frozen yogurt bars... Seriously!

They also have Ice Cream Sandwiches, which I am planning on getting for Mizz Lennid, who is the Ice Cream Sandwich Queen! LOL

Popcorn and ABC's Revenge... that is my Wednesday night in a nutshell, as I've mentioned on FaceBook and Twitter quite often. I bet some of you were going,  "How are you eating popcorn and you're all 'Get Healthy', Audrey?!?".... The answer's quite simple, Light Popcorn. It tastes good.. really. And for the first time in my life my mouth doesn't HURT after eating popcorn from the abundance of salt. Have you ever had that feeling!?  Ugh, T.V.W... The very worse!!! 

Five cups of this popcorn (Which is almost half a bag!)? Only 100 calories!!! I usually pop up a bag on Wednesday night.. eat half, and then enjoy the other half Friday or Saturday night with a good movie!

What are your favorite healthy items to snack on.. I'm all about building my arsenal when a snack attack strikes, so leave a comment and share what you like!!! That rhymed! LOL

Miss Moon Gets Healthy: With a NEW Way to Reward Herself!!!

At the start of my fitness journey, I would periodically give myself a little treat to reward myself for the hard work I've accomplished. The treat?!? A thick juicy bacon cheeseburger from Jake's BBQ here in Brooklyn. Sooo good! They're on Seamless Web, my Brooklyn friends... check 'em out!

When I would indulge in my treat, it didn't feel unsatisfying, but it also didn't make me feel great either, when I'm honest about it. I didn't feel TREATED... I felt a bit... guilty for doing something I felt was counterproductive to all I'm trying to accomplish. And I've always been a person who believes that good things should be rewarded, and if you choose to reward yourself with a burger, or cupcake, or WHATEVER food you love... I say more power to you!!

I just came to the conclusion that for me... my idea of a treat wasn't a burger. Sorry, Jake's! LOL What really brought home the message of my "A-Ha!" moment was a pin I spotted on Pinterest (That site is a great motivational tool for me, feel free to check out my boards if you haven't already! There's a whole "Miss Moon Gets Healthy" section):

When I saw this, I immediately thought to myself, "This is what I needed to read!!!". I promptly thanked the Universe for the sign that I was making the right choices for my life, and I vowed to pick different treats for myself to reward my workouts. 

And it's really worked out well for me! I'm slowing reprogramming myself to not equate unhealthy food with rewards. Because the way I see it... if junk food is a treat, what's healthy food?!? A punishment! And it really isn't (Except wheatgrass... I'm sorry, but Yecch! lol).

I've treated myself to an eyebrow waxing, those adorable new earrings from Dean + Gray, a new lipstick, and I had to take a moment to include my reward for April.... Do you remember my Quest for THE Bag 2011?!?!? Well......

Not my most glamorous photo, but I was just back from a walk and THE Bag was in the mail, so I had to snap a photo!!! LMAO

What better message that you're on the right path then something you've wanted for OVER A YEAR (!!!!) suddenly becoming a possibility!?!?!? I found it for a STEAL on eBay! And thanks to my wonderful mother (who accepts weekly repayment plans), it's MINE!!! And the feeling I felt when I put that bag on my arm.... was satisfying!!!!

And I looked at my Get Healthy path in a new light. I was tenacious enough to keep checking eBay for over a year until I found THE Bag.... Imagine how far I will go if I put that much zeal into getting healthy and losing this weight?!? I think I do... so let's see how far I'll go between now and next year!

Miss Moon Gets Healthy: April Stats

I've been on my "Get Healthy" path for a few months now, but April was the month that I really got it going!!! I plan on  keeping this post short and sweet and just share with you how far I have come! If I can do it.. believe me, anybody can!!!

And here I am... after a walk earlier this week. I saw this Pin on Pinterest once that said, "If you still look cute after a workout... you're not doing it right!".... Judging from this picture, I am definitely doing it right!!! LOL

Others have remarked that they can already see a difference in me, but I must admit that I can't just yet. But I will continue to keep going and I know that one day, I will!!! I cannot wait to see what May has in store for me!!! Let's go #TeamGetHealthy!!!!

Miss Moon Gets Healthy: About the Way She Does Take Out...

This is a map of my wonderful home in Brooklyn called Bed-Stuy. Those little red dots? Oh, those are just all of the restaurants I have the choice of when I and the other inhabitants of Casa di Miss Moon don't feel like slaving over a hot stove!

Let's take a look at my choices: I have two (count 'em!) TWO McDonald's, Burger King, Popeye's, Applebee's, Papa John's, Domino's, Little Caesar, KFC, Dunkin Donuts, Checker's, Six Chinese Restaurants, Three Pizzerias, 8 West Indian Restaurants, and dare I mention the bodegas that will gladly make you a processed meat and cheese hero (LOADED with mayo) at 3 o'clock in the morning upon request? LOL

And to be fair, there are also 3 West Indian/Asian Fruit Markets, 2 Health Food Stores, and a newly opened restaurant called Island Salad (Foursquare users can check in at their Bed-Stuy location!) which I've tried once so far and I loved the salad I got from them!

With not too many healthy choices available to me, what's a girl who is all about getting healthy to do? Well, of course I should be cooking more at home... but this post is all about how I've revamped my Take Out food choices, so I will tell you the first step... I AVOID 95% of all the restaurants within walking distance from your house. Yes, no McDonald's... no Popeye's... no Burger King... no Pizza!! This has been my life for the past two months. Do I miss it? Sometimes... but I do not miss the heartburn, and the overall non-specific feeling of crappiness I experienced immediately after consumption!

To illustrate the change, I will share with you how I used to nom-nom on Chinese Food (Which I LOVE!):

Deliciously decadent Sesame Chicken... How I love thee? Let me count the ways.... all 1028 calories worth!!!! Again, I've been advised to maintain a 1300 calorie per day diet, so.. yeah! LOL

This is what I'm working with nowadays... Steamed Shrimp with Broccoli with a side of brown rice. What's great is that one of the Chinese Restaurants in the area actually gives you a "no sauce" option, which I of course take. To drink? Water!!!!

And the damage calorie-wise? Around 377 calories! Drastic difference, huh? The steamed shrimp and broccoli will run you around 161 calories, while one cup of brown rice is 216 calories.

When you are encountering a lazy day and do not want to cook (it happens.. often! lol), you can enjoy food from your local take out joints, but you have to be savvy as to what you're putting in your body. And since I've adopted this change, I have truly noticed the difference in the way I feel after meals.

Comedian Louis C.K. has a joke about his doctor asking him to describe his "eating habits". His doctor is curious to know how soon into eating a meal does he stop because he's feeling full. Louis' classic response is, "The meal is not over when I feel full... the meal is over when I HATE myself! That's when I stop!" LOL

That pretty much sums up my past experiences with take out food. But lately... I get full and I STOP! So full, in fact.. I can't finish the meal! Which means.. Yippee!! Leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day! As the weeks progress, I will be exploring the healthier meal options at my local restaurants, instead of running to the big chain fast food joints when the family graves takeout. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.. so please leave a comment!