Tag: longterm weight management

Fitness Tips

How To Deal With Extra Holiday Treats And Tasty Leftovers

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Here is your mindful action plan on how to deal with extra holiday treats and tasty leftovers so that you can live fitter and healthier this holiday season.

  1. Make Less: avoid having left overs 
  2. Swap In Healthier Recipes:  make lower calorie options 
  3. Portion and Freeze: enjoy smaller portions later 
  4. Garnish: crumble a small amount on top to add flavor
  5. Fold In: add a small amount in to add flavor

Keep it simple and go into 2025 stronger and fitter than ever!  

For more nutrition tips, meal ideas, over 100 macro friendly recipes perfect for meal prep and beyond, check out my E Cookbooks. Reach your fitness goals with my easy, family friendly, and delicious recipes!  Find high protein versions of your favorite holiday treats like brownies, cookies, and cheesecakes to name a few.

Click below for details. 

https://melaniewales-sustainableliving.com/shop-cookbook/

Find me on Instagram for more recipes, fitness tips, and meal ideas.

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Fitness Tips

5 Proactive Fitness Habits To Start Now 

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Over the course of losing and keeping off 145lbs I have learned quite a bit about what it takes to make weight loss not only possible, but also sustainable. 

It can feel hard to build new habits. That’s why it is best to keep things as simple as possible. It’s amazing how all the small things we do each day add up with time and consistency, not perfection.

Here are 5 proactive habits you can begin doing now to help you get and stay fit long term.

  1. Cook: make most of your meals at home.
  2. Grocery shop: do this weekly to make sure you always have fresh fruits and vegetables and lean proteins available. 
  3. Walk: Move more often throughout the day. Bonus points if you can do it outside. 
  4. Don’t snack: Mindless snacking makes it so easy to overeat. Aim for 3-5 meals each containing at least 25g lean protein and a fruit and/or veg at consistent meal times. 
  5. Found Moment Exercise: Don’t let the excuse of not having enough time stop you from doing something! A solid session of resistance training is great. But if time is limited a set of push ups or bodyweight squats sprinkled throughout the day really add up! 

If you have thought about having me as your coach to support you along your own fitness journey check out the Online Fitness Coaching page on my website for more info and how to inquire about my online fitness coaching service. Receive customized activity and nutrition plans, monthly virtual calls, and weekly email check in’s.

See my client testimonials.

www.melaniewales-sustainableliving.com

Follow me on Instagram for more tips, free recipes, and full days of eating.

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Fit Recipes!

The Best Toaster Pastry Alternative

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The best (and easiest) toaster pastry alternative. Why is it the best? It is higher in protein, lower in fat and carbs, and is way more satiating. It also tastes great!

When it comes to weight management I have no problem enjoying store brought treats such a toaster pastries on occasion, but for my everyday, I make sure to fill most of my nutritional needs with foods that are equally as tasty, but higher in protein and way more satiating.  

Let’s compare a cookies and cream toaster pastry to my cookies and cream topped rice cake. 

Cookies and Cream Toaster Pastry:

  • 183 calories
  • 2g protein
  • 33.5g carbohydrate 
  • 4.5g fat

Cookies and Cream Topped Rice Cake:

  • 167 calories 
  • 17g protein 
  • 20g carbohydrate 
  • 2g fat

To make my version:

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED

  • 30ml 1% milk 
  • 10g cookies and cream flavored whey protein powder 
  • 5g sugar free vanilla instant pudding mix 
  • 75g nonfat Greek yogurt 
  • 1 low sodium rice cake
  • 5g mini Oreo cookie 

DIRECTIONS

To make the protein creme:

In a small bowl mix the milk with the protein powder and pudding mix. It will make a thick frosting like consistency. Then stir in the yogurt mixing well.

Top the rice cake with the protein creme and top with a crumbled mini Oreo.  

Enjoy!

Need some more fun and delicious alternatives to your favorite treats to help you reach your goals? My e- cookbooks are available! Click below for details. 

https://melaniewales-sustainableliving.com/shop-cookbook/

Find loads of macro friendly recipes, healthy swaps and so much more.

Find me on Instagram for more recipes, fitness tips, and meal ideas.

www.instagram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving

Fit Recipes!, Fitness Tips

Great On The Go High Protein Meal Ideas

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We should get at least 30g of high quality protein in each of our meals even when we are on the go.  Next are 3 high protein meal ideas that are great options even on the busiest of days to help you reach your protein goals and help you stick to your daily nutritional goals.  

This post is inspired by my recent family medical emergency and are the exact meals I used to keep my highly stressed and sleep deprived brain and body functional as I cared for my daughter during her hospital stay.  (Update: She is now fully recovered!!!)

  1. Pack 2 scoops of protein powder and an apple or banana.  Simply mix the protein powder in water, a coffee, or other preferred beverage while out and about.  Add in a whole piece of fruit for convenience, fiber, and increased satiety.  Very quick and easy to pack when you are rushing out the door.  
  2. Make a “yummy bowl.”  This yogurt and fruit bowl is my favorite on the go option!  (In my 2nd cookbook I call it the Overnight Dessert Recovery Bowl because I generally make it for my evening dessert) For ease at my house, I refer to it as my “yummy bowl”.  It’s super easy to make and bring in a cooler. See below for a screen shot of the full recipe direct from my e cookbook.   
  3. Buy the best high protein options you can find.  Sometimes we don’t have time to pack or an emergency occurs and there is no other choice.  Read labels and opt for prepared foods that are high in protein and lower in fat such as greek yogurt, a turkey sandwich wrap, and Fair Life Core Power high protein milk.  Add in a piece of whole fruit for more low calorie volume and satiety instead of opting for a side of chips or a cookie.  

You have choices.  Eating like crap never helps you feel better.  

Whatever the day brings you can make the choice that aligns you with your long term goals and helps you feel your best.

Prioritize your health and well being and let the excuse of being “too busy” go.

Getting and staying fit is always worth the effort.  

Screenshot from my E Cookbook “The Art Of Meal Prep For Sustainable Living Volume 2”

Need some more fun and delicious recipes to help you reach your goals? My e- cookbooks are available! Click below for details. 

https://melaniewales-sustainableliving.com/shop-cookbook/

Find the Overnight Dessert Recovery Bowl in Volume 2 as well as many more delicious and macro friendly recipes for bulk prep, quick prep, sweets and snacks prep and so much more.

Find me on Instagram for more recipes, fitness tips, and meal ideas.

www.instagram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving

Fitness Tips

How To Reach 10k Steps Per Day Without A Treadmill

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When it comes to making any fitness or activity goal happen day in and day out  without fail it’s imperative to be open and creative.  If we think the only way to reach a step goal is time on a treadmill, think again.

What happens if you can’t get to the gym?  Don’t own a treadmill? 

Do these obstacles mean you need to skip getting in your daily steps? 

Of course not.  You have choices.  

Next are a few creative ways to increase your daily step count without access to a treadmill.

  1. Walk outside.  Personally I dress for the weather rain, snow, or shine and make it happen.  Daily outdoor light is a must and why not combine the time with a walk.  Enjoy a podcast, talk to a friend on the phone, or meet up with someone and make the time enjoyable.  My daughter is my step buddy.  We love our walks and talks together. 
  2. Walk inside.  Pace around the house.  Take more laps through the isles in a big box store.  Mall walk.  Take the stairs.  When tidying up at home take several trips instead of one and rack up a few more.  Every extra bit of activity counts. 
  3. Walk in place.  This is my secret weapon and I’ve done it for years and years.  This has been the way I make sure to never miss my daily step goal. I walk in place while watching a show, studying, reading, talking on the phone, and even in between sets during my workouts.  Yes, at the end of a long day I have been known to walk in place to ensure I have those last few steps before diving head first into bed.  Lol!

Make realistic goals, commit, be creative, and then make them happen. You’ve got this!

If you have thought about having me as your coach to support you along your own fitness journey check out the Online Fitness Coaching page on my website for more info and how to inquire about my online fitness coaching service. Receive customized activity and nutrition plans, monthly virtual calls, and weekly email check in’s.

http://melaniewales-sustainableliving.com/online-fitness-coaching/

Follow me on Instagram for evidence based fitness tips, free recipes, and full days of eating.

http://www.instgram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving