Tag Archives: carrie burrows

Pancake Tuesday!

Pancake Tuesday!

Here is my recipe for PROTEIN pancakes—good for breakfast, lunch or dinner!!!!

1 egg
1-2 scoops Boot Camp Vanilla protein
2-4 tbsp of unsweet almond milk
3/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 mashed banana (optional)

Mix together-pour into your pan-watch for bubbles and carefully flip–cook at low heat.

Top with fresh fruit!

Here is my recipe for PROTEIN pancakes—good for breakfast, lunch or dinner!!!!

1 egg
1-2 scoops Boot Camp Vanilla protein
2-4 tbsp of unsweet almond milk
3/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 mashed banana (optional)

Mix together-pour into your pan-watch for bubbles and carefully flip–cook at low heat.

Top with fresh fruit!

Photo: Greater Victori Public Library

 

The cost of eating healthy

Food, it does a body good

I hear all the time that it is expensive to eat healthy–total bull.

I think it is far more expensive to eat out (not knowing who is touching/preparing your food) sorry, personal germ-a-phobe moment

Going out to eat a salad with chicken breast for $13, really? You get about $1.00 worth of salad and the chicken breast is about 3.00.  Total cost $4…a nine dollar margin for the restaurant–gah! And yes, I know, overhead, employees and the cost of doing business stuff.

Not to mention the issue of who is actually preparing and touching your food…ick! Save the money and make the dang salad and bbq up the chicken.

It is expensive to eat pre-packed food not to mention its gross, crappy full of chemicals/preservatives to make it shelf stable for years…whole other blog post on that issue.

You need to reconsider how you look at the cost of food.  Yes, you can eat a big jumbo box of some kind of cereal that will cost you a couple of bucks. But there are other costs with that mentality.  The cost of that is gaining weight, speeding up the aging process, which means it essentially you shorten your life.  What’s the price tag on that I wonder?

Or, you can spend a few more cents and eat some protein power packed eggs for breakfast–that will help you keep your weight in check, turn back the aging clock, power your mind and muscles and extend your life.

Are you really, going to complain over a couple of bucks here and there to live a better life??

Take 10 minutes and plan your week with the meals that you will eat.  You’ll find having a plan will make it much easier. It takes the stress out of eating and you are less tempted when walking the food isles.

I really don’t think it’s that much of a big deal to look at your week ahead and see what you have to do and plan from there.  10 minutes people, 10 freaking minutes.  That’s all it takes!

If you tell me that you just can’t do it, then I will tell you that you will never get to the next stage in your weight loss goals; plain and simple.  Not to mention, you’re telling yourself, “Me and my family just aren’t worth it.”  OUCH!

A few tips to make things easier and more affordable.

  1. Read the weekly sales flyers.  Look for items on sale that are on your healthy food list. Great deals on the crap?  Who cares, it’s crap!
  2. Shop with the seasons—buy produce that is in season.  It’s always a better price and it tastes better.
  3. Frozen is ok—buying frozen produce is ok and it is always cheaper.  Look for flash frozen from a natural state…aka, not pre-cooked, seasoned, chemically altered, etc.
  4. Get creative—-if extra lean ground beef or ground turkey is on sale then buy extra, freeze it and use some to whip up a chili packed with beans and veggies
  5. Grill up meat so you can pack it in your meals.  Even do up extra that you can freeze.
  6. Buy a vacuum sealer.  You can but extra of everything when it’s on sale and freeze it up! We also make up a lot of meals ahead of time, vacuum seal them and warm them up later

Here is a sample of my shopping list.

  • Avocados (2) 3.00
  • Hummus   3.00
  • Red peppers (2) 3.00
  • Apples (5-6) 4.00
  • Eggs – dozen 2.50
  • Spinach 4.00-fresh (frozen is about 2.00)
  • Broccoli (frozen) 3.00
  • Frozen raspberries 4.00
  • Tomatoes (diced/can) 1.00
  • Black Beans (1 can) 1.00
  • Salmon (canned) 2.50
  • Sirloin Steak 5.00
  • Skinless Chicken breasts-fresh (5-6) 20.00
  • Unsweetened Almond Milk 4.00 (2 containers for $4.00)

I put approximate values on the above foods

Grand total for my staples per week is $65–

Yes, I spend more than $65 a week (I am feeding a family of 5) but those are some of my staples.

I buy more veggies, lean meats, brown rice or quinoa, but I always have the above items in my cart weekly.

Start shopping smart for eating smart and watch your grocery bill go down along with the pounds!!!

Protein…it does a body good

For everyone who has participated in one of my weight loss programs or taken on my 7 day slim down, 5 ½ day diet or had me prepare a nutrition plan for you, you know I am big on ensuring you eat healthy, lean protein.

Why do I love protein so much?

This is protein

Well for starters it has an impact on your blood sugar, glucagon, insulin, satiety, blood amino, nitrogen retention, glycemic load, muscle health, energy, negative caloric state and a whole lot of other really fun things.

Let me break it down for you.

  1. Taking in healthy Protein actually makes your body burn more calories just by consuming it because it takes energy to break it down into bite size pieces that your body uses.  Those are amino acids…they are good things
  2. Protein helps protect you from losing muscle.  If you are in an amino acid deficit, your body eats its own muscle.  That means less fat burning ability…that’s not good.
  3. Protein helps control insulin and blood sugar so your body produces the fat burning goodness that you want…that’s a good thing
  4. Protein takes longer to break down and digest than carbohydrates so your hunger is controlled longer…that’s a good thing.

All foods (carbs, protein, fat, micro and macro nutrients) have an effect on insulin and blood sugar. Carbohydrates jack blood glucose levels faster and more that the others.  Then your body makes insulin to suck out the sugar.  Then the sugar gets transported to your muscles and liver so that it can be used later.

That process also makes your body release a bunch of other hormones that help it store all that energy….aka, fat stores. Not really what most people who are looking to lose weight want.

What you want is your body to release fat, not store it.

So here are my recommendations for healthy protein choices. A serving size of meat is about 3-4oz or about the size of a deck of cards for 22-28 grams of protein.

Seafood

This is an excellent source of protein because it is low in fat. Fish such as salmon is a little higher in fat, but it is the heart healthily kind: omega 3 fatty acids.

White Meat Poultry

Stay with the white meat. Dark Meat is a little higher in fat. The skin is loaded with saturated fat.

Eggs

Eggs are one of the least expensive forms of protein. Hard boiled eggs are a great option and portable!

Beans

A 1/2 cup of beans contains almost as much protein as an ounce of broiled steak. Beans are loaded with fiber to keep you feeling full

Pork Tenderloin

The other / other white meat.  It’s 31% leaner than it was 20 years ago.

For my Veggie friends–Soy is another source of protein, which is controversial, but I’ll save that for another post.

Lean Beef

Surprise, lean beef has only one more gram of saturated fat than a skin-less chicken breast. It is also an excellent source of iron, B12 and zinc

Cottage cheese serving size is roughly ½ cup for 15 grams of protein.

Egg whites have 3 grams of protein while the yolk has the same. So eat your eggs. You get a “complete” protein when using yolks and whites, so eat the yolks.

Protein powders are a great supplement / addition.  Most are 20-25 grams per scoop.

My recommendation?  Get a high quality Whey protein (such as our fabulous Boot Camp protein). It has the best amino acid profile and it’s been shown to elevate your body’s own antioxidant levels of glutathione…that’s a good thing.

To summarize…. eat PROTEIN…. with everything. :-)

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

We all know It’s not really a holiday.  Let’s be honest and call it a Hallmark holiday and a celebration for retailers. People spend ridiculous amounts of money because they feel they need to and then get a hate on for Valentine’s Day because of the materialistic nature of the beast.

Obviously, I am not a supporter of all of the cheap chocolate and brightly coloured candy.

Remember, no one is making you eat the candy that you’ll be given or see in the bowls around the office that no one else wants so get a grip on yourself and just say NO!

The truth is, I really like Valentine’s Day.  Why not have a day to celebrate love?! Oh, dial it down you naysayers.  I can hear you, “I don’t need a specific day to show people I love them.” – yada, yada, yada….bah humbug!

It’s a day to celebrate, acknowledge the special people in you lives, be a bit nicer & happier.  Is that so wrong?

Those people who beat down Valentine’s Day and say that it’s useless are negative and if you come across these Valentine haters, give them an extra big smile, hold the door open for them, wish them a very Happy Valentine’s Day. Better yet, give them a hug!  That should make them really uncomfortable.  Maybe uncomfortable enough to realize that it is just a fun day and we all know the world needs more fun days.

Hate the commercialization of love?  There are a lot of things you can do for free that are just a little more thoughtful, a little more giving, a little more special…is that so wrong??

Yes, companies profit off of this day but again, it’s your choice to buy or not. This is a great time to get creative to show your love in a different way.  I obviously show my boot campers I love them through extra push-ups, squats and lunges…all with love!!!

Just like it’s your choice to be happy or your choice to love your loved ones. SO WHAT if it’s a commercial celebration?  Just celebrate those you love a little bit extra.  What’s so wrong with that? Nothing!

Another reason I like Valentine’s Day is that it brings much-needed attention to Heart Health. LOVE YOURSELF enough to take care of your health.

I could give you a list of do’s and don’t but you know what’s right and wrong.

Eat smart (real food), exercise (show up to boot camp), drink water, get enough sleep.  The all = love yourself!

A few more I would like to throw in:

  • Tell the people you love-that you love them each and everyday
  • Be kind…do unto other’s…
  • Be appreciative of your good health
  • Do something you wouldn’t usually do.  Wear your favourite red sweater or try a new red lipstick.

Time to redirect your thinking.

My take away message…Love yourself, be kind to others.

Happy Valentine’s Day and I hope you are all rocking your favourite red sweater!!!

Dance like no one is watching

xo

Whitneys addiction got me thinking about my own…can you relate?

I have to write a bit about Whitney Houston passing away.  To say that it is sad is a real understatement.

First and foremost, she was a mom and now there is a girl without her mom. She was an amazing singer with incredible talent. She was only 48 years old; she had a lot of life to live and she threw it away because of an addiction.

It was sad to see such a brilliant person unravel before us on the world spotlight. Addiction is awful and it does break my heart when you see so many people fall victim to it.

You might be asking yourself, why is Carrie writing about Whitney Houston on the boot camp blog.  Simple; I was a fan and I am saddened to see such a loss from every perspective.  From her family’s loss to the loss of a young life and the loss of a great talent, who by all reports was on the verge of a comeback.

To tie this into what I do, I see this almost daily, people battling addiction.

I have written about my food addiction, if you haven’t read it–give it a read (http://thebootcampblog.com/tag/food-addiction/ )

I don’t want to get off track here but I want to stress that food is nourishment and we have turned it into something else. We have placed a value on food that is insane. We use food to quash our emotions and its temporary and then we go back for more.

Our health is our foundation. I think that those that eat/drink with no thoughts of the real consequences are reckless and fast tracking their own demise…just like an addict.

It’s sad that people only start to care for their health when something bad happens. Those are the same people who try to justify to me why they can’t eat healthy food or make an effort to cook.

You don’t realize what you have until it is stripped away from you.

To those of you that have sore knees and bad backs and are carrying extra weight, that is your body screaming that it needs help. If you don’t take the steps to eat right, exercise and get the extra weight off you are just as reckless as an addict.

Harsh? I don’t think so. I see it all-day, everyday. People in pain emotionally and physically. There is a tried and true prescription: You need to take care of your body so it can take care of you.

We have all lost someone and it rocks us to our core.  Why do that to your loved ones? Why put them in pain? You can take control of your health and make it the best life ever!!

You don’t know if you will get a second chance, so don’t waste the first one.

Be healthy-live long and pain-free!

 

 

 

 

 

 

(http://pinterest.com/pin/176133035396574026/)

 

 

6 Fitness Fails…and the fixes

We have made it over a month into the New year.  Did you make resolutions? Are you staying on track?

Losing weight and keeping it off has become a bit of a rarity. We all know people who lose weight and keep it off for a little while and then go back to their old ways and regain the weight. If you’re lucky you only gain it back…many go beyond!

Understanding the problem better helps lead you to real solutions. Time to get off the weight loss / weight gain roller coaster.

Instead of you trying the latest diet fad, I’ve put together a few things that will help you stay on track.

6 reasons why you fall off the wagon

1. No focus: you didn’t set goals, you didn’t put your goals
in writing, and or you didn’t keep your goals in mind daily

2. No priorities:  you may have set a goal, but you didn’t
put it on or near the top of your priorities list. For
example, your goal is six-pack abs, but drinking wine and
eating fast food on the weekend is higher on your priorities
list than having a flat/fit stomach.

3. No support system: you tried to go at it alone; no buddy
system, training partners, family, spouse, friends, mentors
or coaches to turn to for information and emotional support
when the going got tough.

4. No Accountability: you didn’t keep score for your own
accountability – with a progress chart, weight record,
measurements, food journal, training journal, and you didn’t
set up external accountability (ie, report to someone else
or show your results to someone else)

5. No patience: you were only thinking short-term and had
unrealistic expectations.  You expected 10 pounds a week or
5 pounds a week or 3 pounds a week, so the first week you
lost “only” 1 or 2 pounds or hit a plateau, you gave up.

6. No planning: you winged it.  You got the idea that you need to exercise and get healthy so you hit the gym. No plan, no schedule, no direction.  How do you get somewhere when you don’t know where you going? So then, you lose interest and excuses become easier than reasons.

6 mistakes that cause most people to fall off the wagon. Are you guilty of any of these?  If so, the solutions are clear and simple:

  • Focus
  • Prioritize
  • Get support
  • Be accountable
  • Be patient
  • Plan.

 

Super Bowl Belly Hangover

If you’re like a lot of people, you may have over-indulged last night while watching the Super Bowl.

This morning you might even have a food hangover. Part of the food hangover is the actual hangover of pudge. Your pants are tighter, you feel icky, you have LOTS of regret.  Thoughts like, “Why you ate that 4th piece of pizza?” might even come to mind.

If you are one of those scale jumpers, you know who you are, you might even be cursing yourself this morning!!  The ones that get on the scale a few times a day may be having a fit today trying to figure out where the extra weight came from this weekend.  You will notice that your weight is up after the weekend festivities if you decided to indulge, (over-indulge).  For those of you professional dieters, you are likely trying to do some kind of math to figure out how in the world you are up 3 -5 lbs in one day. Pizza x beer + nachos – water / chicken wings + chips (insert a lot of math lingo here) = WEIGHT GAIN!!

For those that have been at this weight loss game for a while you will know that a pound of fat is about 3500 calories and with your rough estimate there was no way that you scarfed down that many calories this weekend.  (Oh, for you points people, just hush….I will deal with you and your points in another blog post.)

Maybe you didn’t and I really hope you didn’t eat over 3500 calories yesterday. So, why the weight gain???

Drum roll please…………

SODIUM

All of that party food tends to be loaded with sodium.
Women have a terrible time with hormones and water weight.
Men will be feeling the super bowl belly this morning as well!

Don’t stress, I have your post super bowl binge recover plan.

How to overcome this….well, boot camp of course.  You need to move your body! Oh and don’t use excuses like super events to sacrifice sound nutrition in the first place!

I am not a fan of Madonna but I will give her props for looking great at 53yrs old and poppin’ and lockin’ like a 25 year old.  Who doesn’t want to be in fab shape at 53??  I can guarantee you that she doesn’t take her fitness lightly and she sure doesn’t eat like a lumberjack, “just because”.

Don’t just talk about how you want to be fit.  Become fit.  Show up and do what has to be done!

Here are some other steps to take to get back to your pre-super-bowl weight:

Action Step #1:  Water, water and more water.  That is your drink of choice. You need at least 3-4 litres to flush that sodium out.

Action Step #2:  Add 2-3 cups of dark leafy greens to your food intake today (spinach, kale, etc)

Action Step #3: Show up to boot camp and we will do the super bowl shuffle and sweat out the bloat!!

Action Step #4: Have a post boot camp recovery protein shake (add in some spinach).  Feed your muscles the nutrition they need.

Action Step #5: REPEAT tomorrow and the next day!!

Boot Camp is BETTER!

Boot Camp IS better!!

A bold statement.  A true statement.  Don’t worry I can back up those statements too.   For those of you know that know me, I am not the wishy-washy type. So, when I say boot camp is better, I mean it, I believe it and I can prove it.  Here’s why.

At boot camp we move from our feet to fingers.  By move, I mean we MOVE our ENTIRE bodies, every single muscle. We push, we pull, we lift, we get up, we bend/stretch, we run stairs.

What kind of moves are those? ALL FUNCTIONAL REAL LIFE MOVEMENTS.  They are the moves that mimic real life activities.  Things you actually do!  We make those movements more challenging with the use of body weight and resistance.

Boot camp better because we have accountability.  You don’t show up, you get an email from yours truly!  You have group support.  Other boot campers support and encourage you…we’re a team, a kind of family.
(The gym knows and actually hopes you don’t show up.  I want you to show up.  We want you to show up.  I make sure that you do! )

Simmer down all of you yogi’s and gym goers.   Sitting on a bike peddling away, going nowhere fast doesn’t do it for me.  To each their own.

An ABC news report revealed that standard cardio equipment caloric readings are not accurate.  “Liar, liar elliptical on fire” was the biggest offender with a false reading of 42%.  42% over-estimate of calories burned!  Yikes!! You just got burned! Your calories, not so much.

So you think that you just burned 500 calories pushing away on that elliptical, bike or treadmill and you really didn’t #fail.

We burn 800-1000 calories at boot camp.  We move feet to fingers!

I am proud of you boot campers.  I am proud of how hard you work.  This blog post is to give you a virtual hi-5!!!  I am proud of your dedication, commitment and energy!

Here is a shout out to some of our 7 Day Slim *stars*.  These are INCREDIBLE 7 DAY results! 7 DAYS people.  Who else wants results like this?

  • Kelly  8 3/4 inches lost
  • Rhoda 5 inches lost
  • Lori 9 inches lost
  • Bridie 5.5 inches lost
  • Sara 10 inches lost
  • Maureen 9 inches lost
  • Lisa 4.5 inches lost
  • Diane 7 inches lost
  • Jess 5.5 inches lost

So proud of everyone that shows up to boot camp each and every night!!!  You are awesome!

It will be worth it

I know there are times that I rant about things or get on my soap box and preach to you all about what not to do.  I do this for a couple of reasons. One being, that I want / need you guys to be informed. Second reason is because, I have been where you are. When I ask you to listen (ok, sometimes I beg you / tell you) it is because I actually do know what I am talking about.

Some of my blog posts are meant to get you fired up.  They are meant to motivate you.  Some are to get you thinking or re-thinking about your fitness and food.

If you take nothing away from what I say this is what I want you to know.

If you get fit and healthy, I mean finally take control of your weight you will:

  • not feel uncomfortable and insecure all the time
  • be able to wear anything
  • be able to walk around and “not feel fat”
  • be able to wear a bathing suit without a cover up
  • be able to prove to yourself and everyone else that you are strong enough to do anything

If you don’t lose those extra pounds and keep putting weight on, this is what will happen or continue to happen:

  • you won’t fit into your jeans or any cute pants
  • you will never feel comfortable in a bathing suit
  • you will have a stomach that droops over your pants
  • you will feel self-conscious
  • you will continue to beat yourself up
  • you will not have the energy or the strength to live a long and energetic life
  • you will cut your life short.  That’s a big one!

This is what I know…it’s not theory. 

Those lists could’ve been much longer.  This is what I know, because that is where I was.  I’m not just giving you what I think.  I’ve been there.

Here is something else that you need to read to get your head in the game (yes, High School Musical reference).  It will be tough at times to eat right and show up to boot camp. It will require dedication and willpower.  It will require total effort. It will call for you to suck it up and stay strong

BUT, I promise that when you reach your goal…IT WILL BE WORTH IT!!

How are your resolutions going?

Well , we are one week from the end of January.  The first month of 2012 is almost gone and what have you got to show for it?

How are you doing on your goals for this year so far?  Did you set your goals for the year?  It doesn’t matter if we are talking about finances, family of fitness…you need to set goals.  It’s no just enough to say I want to lose 30 pounds or I want to be a size 6.

When do you want to lose 30 pounds? After you gain 20?  If you’re a size 12 you might just be a little discouraged right now if you wanted to be in the size 6-slinky dress for Valentines Day.

Just like it’s not enough to say (wish) what you want, you need to be realistic about the time line and you need to put a date on your goals.  Here’s what I mean.

Goal

I will lose 30 pounds by December 31st, 2012.

(I’m going to use that as an example for the rest of this post…feel free to put your own number in there)

That’s a great goal and its got a realistic date for achievement.  Now that you’ve got the goal and the date and you’ve written it down, committed to it and even shared it with someone to be accountable to, you have to take action.

Big surprise! All the wishing, wanting, writing and dreaming will NEVER get you where you want to be.  You HAVE to take action, and that action needs to also be set in stone.

How are you going to lose 30 pounds? Are you going to wait until November 1st to go into panic mode and try to take some drastic measure?

Bench Mark Goals

You need to set mini-goals on your way to the ultimate goal.  30 pounds by December 31st = 2.75 pounds per month.  So every month for the next 11 months you need to drop 2.75 pounds.  That works out to be .68 pounds per week.

I will tell you right now…that is very attainable.  BUT, you have to do it right.  Last week I praised Mayor Ford for making the decision to tackle his weight.  One week later, 10 pounds gone! He has a very aggressive goal of 50 pounds in 6 months and after only one week, 10 pounds!  Time for celebration?

NO!!!

It is not time for celebration and that is where so many people go off the rails in their plans.  “This is easy!”  “I deserve a treat.”  “I don’t have to work so hard”  I’ll take tonight off of boot camp.  I guarantee thinking like this is the key to so many people’s failures.

You have not reached your goal.  30 pounds by December 31st is your goal.  Don’t make the mistake of easing off or destroying your good efforts.

Objectives

To reach your bench-mark goal (.68 pounds per week to attain 2.75 pounds per month) you need to set the objectives to meet and measure your plan.

  • I will lose .68 pounds this month by:
  • Eating 4 to 6 times per day
  • Each meal I eat will include a lean protein, a vegetable, a fibrous carb.
  • Each meal will not go beyond an intelligent portion
  • In between meals snacks will be small and intelligent
  • I will exercise a minimum of 30 minutes per day
  • I will sleep at least seven hours per night
  • I will not eat after 8 pm.I will drink 3 litres of water per day (divide that as well: 1 cup (250 ml) every hour.
  • I will NOT drink alcohol
Measurement

At the end of the week, before you get on the scale, look back at your daily journal.  What? You’re not keeping a food journal? You’re not checking off your accomplishments? OK, you need to journal what you are doing.  On the top of each page of your journal you need to write down your objectives (To Do List) and as you accomplish them, check them off.  You also need to write down what you eat…EVERYTHING!

I guarantee that if you look back at your week and your journal is not something you are proud of you will not be happy with your results.  In fact, if your journal isn’t good, don’t even get on the scale.

In fact, just stay away from the scale.  Look at yourself in the mirror and see if you have improved at all.  Think of how your clothes feel.  Yes, you will be able to tell after one simple week.

Reward

Meet your objectives? Reward yourself.  Meet your goals?  Then reward yourself.  Rewards don’t mean bingeing on crap. Don’t destroy your great accomplishments with bad rewards.  A facial, new book, a healthy dinner at a restaurant.  Mani / Pedi.  Find your hot button and use that as your reward.

Here is a great tip.  Include your family in your objectives and goal settings.  Make the journey for them as well.  Lets say your children know that if you hit your goals, there will be a family outing or movie night.  They’ll help remind you when you are about to do something that goes against your objective’s.

What happens when you find yourself ahead of schedule? Celebrate by changing your time line.  Move it from December 31st, 2012 to October 31st, 2012.  Don’t slow down your schedule or results by backing off.  That will lead to compromise and delay.  Let that happen long enough and complacency will set in and before you know it…you are right off track.

  1. Goal
  2. Benchmarks
  3. Objectives
  4. Measurement
  5. Reward

Stick to that, be honest to yourself and committed to your goal and you will win!

Then we can move onto to maintaining the new you forever!

Who loves ‘ya?