Uncovering the New Me Thanks to Jenny Craig!

I am still under the TLC/sponsorship of Jenny Craig – on board with the most supportive team who is helping me keep my commitment to a healthful lifestyle! As I have shared before, I had challenges maintaining a long-term integrative approach to well-being and would have waves of what I call my ”not taking care of myself syndrome”.  I, like many, had always wanted to conquer my excuses and rationales as barriers (had a burning desire since I turned 40 - OK, 45!) to face the music and be in a program that really worked for the long haul.

Today I have just *one more pound to go to achieve my first goal with Jenny Craig: 10lb weight loss, which, to me, is huge! I appreciate the warm guidance of Helen (Carlsbad site manager/God-send) and her amazing team! I feel wonderful! I get good sleep, follow an exercise routine and am eating better than I ever have in my life!

We tend to forget how much of our health is based on our personal choices and overall well-being! In honor of American Heart Month, Jenny Craig is working with the American Heart Association to support its My Heart. My Life.™ healthy living initiative. Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in America?

Here are Jenny Craig’s five simple tips to a healthy heart, along with a healthful breakfast recipe, good for the heart:

Add a Pop of Color: Fill your plate with foods rich in water, fiber and protein and lower in fat. This principle known as the Volumetrics® Approach to eating allows you to eat more food, feel fuller and add nutrients with fewer calories. For example, mixing non-starchy vegetables, such as tomatoes, broccoli and peppers, into your pasta dish will lower the calorie density and enlarge your portion.

Move More: Physical activity is a key component to weight loss success and keeping your heart healthy. Increasing your level of activity will not only help you to burn calories, but it will also reduce stress. Try integrating physical activity into your lifestyle so that you’re exercising without even knowing it – run around with your children, park further away from the door or take the stairs. You can even do body weight exercises in your own living room during commercial breaks of your favorite TV show. Just move more!

Manage Your Portions: You can still eat the foods you love, but when preparing meals just be mindful of how much you’re piling on. If you use the plate method, 1/4 of your plate will have a serving of a starch, 1/4 will have a protein and 1/2 will have vegetables, which you can pile as high as you like (without additional fat). Remember the first bite tastes the best, so no need to eat too much.

Join a Heart Walk: Join Team Jenny at one of the more than 300 Heart Walks across the country this year! Make the commitment to join a Heart Walk and take a stand in the fight against heart disease and help save lives. Not really sure where to begin? Take it slow! Just remember to start with a 5-minute warm-up and finish with a 5-minute cool-down every time you work out and be sure to stay hydrated. Click here to learn more about how you can join Team Jenny at a Heart Walk near you.

Break for Breakfast: While it may seem like just a little meal you skip at the start of your daily routine, breakfast is truly the most important meal of your entire day. Not only does it help to boost your metabolism, it also keeps your blood sugar stable throughout the day. So the next time you’re moving a mile a minute, take a moment to slow down and grab a healthy bite in the morning. Your heart will thank you later!

Try this simple, heart healthy recipe the next time you’re making breakfast. This dish also incorporates the Volumetrics® Approach (exclusive to the Jenny Craig program), by including fresh veggies. This principle, founded by Dr. Barbara Rolls, Professor of Nutritional Sciences and the Helen A. Guthrie Chair in Nutrition at Pennsylvania State University, allows one to eat more food and feel fuller on fewer calories by choosing foods rich in water, fiber and protein and lower in fat.

Jenny Craig’s Spinach & Green Chile Omelette

 Ingredients

4  egg whites

1/2 cup  nonfat milk  

salt and pepper to taste

1  (4 oz.) can diced green chilies

1 cup red bell pepper, diced

1/3 cup  shredded spinach leaves

2 Tbsp. fat-free sour cream

nonstick vegetable spray

 Directions

1. Spray large skillet with nonstick spray and heat over medium heat.

2. In a large bowl, whisk egg whites, milk, salt and pepper.

3. Cook the egg mixture over medium-heat for about 3 minutes or until sides start to set.

4. Place green chilies, bell pepper and spinach leaves on one side of the egg mixture and fold in half.

5. Cook for an additional minute, or until vegetables are soft.

6. Cut omelette in half, top with sour cream and serve. 

For more information on Jenny Craig, visit: http://www.jennycraig.com/.  And, don’t forget to visit http://www.jennycraig.com/heart-walk to learn about how Jenny is supporting the American Heart Association’s My Heart. My Life. ™ initiative.  Here, you will soon be able to sign up for the American Heart Association’s Heart Walks taking place in over 300 cities through 2013.

*Jenny Craig clients, on average, lose 1-2 pounds per week.  Photos c/o Jenny Craig.

Disclaimer: SDBM is sponsored by Jenny Craig. Opinions are my own!

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