Goodbye 2012

Okay, So I'm back now! My winter classes have started. We are back in action!! First of all, let me just say GOODBYE 2012! Words literally can not express how last year dramatically changed my life. So we won't even go there! But I am very excited for this year! I, not only want to get myself back into shape, but help you, my readers as well! For now I will give you a few snacking tips, and quick tummy workouts, but stay tuned for deets on everything!!!

So lets talk toned tummys!!!
Lots of people think that you need lots of time and the perfect place to workout. Luckily for us, thats not true!! You can tone your abs while walking, sitting, and even standing! Here are four easy tricks to get that tummy looking yummy!

Crunches First Thing in the Morning

Toning your stomach doesn’t have to take hours of sweat in the gym. One way to give your abdominals a workout is to do a quick set of sit ups when you wake up in the morning. Make it the first thing you do before hitting the shower. On the floor in your bedroom or other part of your home, do a set of crunches. As you get used to this routine every morning, challenge yourself by increasing the number of crunches and doing twists to work out the muscles on the sides of your torso.

Achieve a Toned Stomach While Walking and Working

Another activity that can be considered a form of multitasking is to be conscious of your abdominal muscles when you’re walking and sitting. When walking to your car in the morning or to your office from the parking lot, tighten your abdominals while walking with a perfectly straight spine. You can also do this as you’re sitting in your chair at work. You might find that when you get in the habit of doing this, you will often do it naturally without thinking about it. Just be sure to breathe naturally as you pull in your stomach muscles.

Sit Your Way to a Toned Stomach

Anytime you find that you have an extra moment during the day--while sitting at home watching television or at your office when no one is looking--you can exercise your abdominals. Sit with an upright spine and your feet on the floor. Make sure the chair is stable. Then tighten your stomach as you lift your feet off the ground. You can do this with bent legs or straight legs.

Another exercise that will work your abdominals while sitting in a chair is to place your hands behind your head and twist from side to side. Reach your elbow to the opposite leg as you lift it off the ground. Be sure to keep your spine as straight as possible during this exercise.

A Standing Abdominal Exercise

Dancers often have very toned stomach muscles because many of the balancing exercises they do require core muscle strength. One dance exercise you can do quickly throughout your day is to stand with your feet together and then lift one leg off of the floor. Try to keep your back straight and your abdominals engaged. As you extend your leg, you will find that your stomach muscles will feel this exercise. Repeat this activity while balancing on the opposite leg.

Here are 30 healthy snacks with less than 200 calories.

Craving salty?

• 5 olives (any kind) (45 calories)
• 1 small Martin's pretzel (50 calories)
• 2 oz Applegate Honey and Maple Turkey Breast wrapped around 2 bread-and-butter pickles (80 calories)
• 1/4 cup hummus, 3 carrot sticks (80 calories)
• 1 Laughing Cow Light Swiss Original wedge, 3 pieces Kavli Crispy Thin (85 calories)
• One 1-oz package tuna jerky (90 calories)
• 1 oz buffalo mozzarella, 1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes (94 calories)
• 1 bag Baked! Cheetos 100 Calorie Mini Bites (100 calories)
• 15 Eden's Nori Maki Crackers rice crackers (110 calories)
• 1 cup unshelled edamame (120 calories)
• 50 Eden's Vegetable Chips (130 calories)
• One 1-oz package of Planters NUT-trition almonds (130 calories)
• 1/4 cup Trader Joe's Chili con Queso, 18 baked tortilla chips (140 calories)
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds in shell (143 calories)
• 2 pieces (30 grams) prosciutto, 4 dried figs (154 calories)
• 1 Subway Turkey Breast Wrap (190 calories)

Craving sweet?

• 1 package Original Apple Nature Valley Fruit Crisps (50 calories)
• 1 packet O'Coco's Mocha cookies (90 calories)
• 1 Jelly Belly 100-calorie pack (100 calories)
• One 100-calorie pack Trader Joe's Chocolate Graham Toucan Cookies (100 calories)
• One 100-calorie Balance Bar (100 calories)
• 1 Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino bar (120 calories)
• 1 package Back to Nature Honey Graham Sticks (120 calories)
• 1/2 banana rolled in 1 tbsp frozen semisweet chocolate chips (123 calories)
• 2 tbsp Better 'n Peanut Butter, 4 stalks celery (124 calories)
• 1 bag Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop Butter Mini Bags topped with a spritz of butter spray and 1 tsp sugar (126 calories)
• 24 Annie's Chocolate Chip Bunny Graham cookies (140 calories)
• Half of a 1.08-oz container of M&M's Minis mixed with 1/3 cup lowfat granola (145 calories)
• 1 McDonald's Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait (160 calories)
• 1 container Fage Greek Total 2% fat yogurt, 2 tsp honey (173 calories)

Keep in mind that eating healthy and exercise DOES NOT have to be horrible!! There are things to do and eat for everyone! Think of something you enjoy doing or eating, email or comment it to me and i'll give you an idea or two! ;)