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Spring is here, which means swimsuit season is not far away! Eek! No more hiding under coats and sweatpants. It’s time to get in tip top shape because the pool and sunny beaches will be calling soon! My 30-Day “New Me” Challenge can make that happen! It’s unbelievably straightforward!
THE 30-DAY “NEW ME” CHALLENGE:
- Choose one unhealthy dietary habit and refrain from doing it, i.e. change it for good! (i.e. eating too much salt, sugars, fats, not drinking enough water, etc.)
- Exercise 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Make it a priority!
Do this for one month and see if you feel refreshed! Work on something different the next month and so on. Baby steps in the right direction can ultimately yield fantastic results!
You all probably know by now that chocolate is my Achilles heel. (Side note: Why does it have to be so yummy?) Any and all self control that I thought I had goes out the door when it is around. The insatiable sweet tooth runs in my family, but so does diabetes, unfortunately. Not a good combination.
If there is one thing in my diet that I would love to change, it’s my dessert (which mostly consists of chocolate) consumption. It has a tendency to get out-of-hand some days. But I’ve dedicated the past two weeks and the next two to come, to getting it under control. So I’ve said goodbye to these luscious things……
…but just for 30 days. Not an easy commitment to make! I munched nuts and cheese at a torturous Dessert Extravaganza and very begrudgingly chose not to eat that chocolate cupcake and hearty helping of ice cream at my son’s birthday party. It seems like cruel and unusual punishment, especially to a food blogger like me. But I’m determined to conquer this! That being said, I can smell cookies from a mile away right now, so beware. 🙂
I still eat small amounts of sugar in various recipes, and natural sugars are totally fine, just no desserts or candy…etc. I will never omit sugar from my diet entirely, (I don’t want to) but my hope is that I can reset and reduce my cravings. More importantly, I want to learn to on occasion say “no” to dessert (a new thing for me) and satisfy my sweet tooth another way. Like with this phenomenal Orange Fizz Smoothie!
It tastes like I’m cheating on my 30 day “no desserts” goal, but I’m not! How cool is that? After drinking it, I actually forgot about the bag of Easter candy sitting in my cupboard that I’ve been longing to devour. It’s bursting with fruity goodness and has a slight fizz from some splashes of delicious Ten Sunkist.
Ten Sunkist is super slim on calories (just 10 per serving!) and sugar (just 2g per serving!), but full on flavor! Just the way a drink should be. Which means you don’t need to sacrifice taste or give up drinking soda while cutting down on calories! It’s a win-win! Ten beverages (also available in Ten 7-Up, Ten A&W, and Ten Canada Dry Ginger Ale) are a yummy replacement for full-calorie sodas! Find them at your local Walmart.
And there’s more great news, but this time regarding your wallet! Right now you can receive $0.50 off of the purchase of TWO 2 Liter bottles or TWO 4-pack cans of Ten 7UP, Ten Ten A&W, Canada Dry, or Ten Sunkist soda. Offer available while supplies last, from 3/27-4/17. Print your coupon HERE. Coupon will be available March 27 through April 17.
Pair this with 30 minutes of exercise, 5 days a week, and you’re on track to becoming a “New You”!Can you guess what my workout of choice is?
I honestly can’t wait for my husband to walk in the door each day from work, because it means I can don these pretties and put feet to the pavement. Running is a huge release for me. I don’t have the knees to take on a marathon or even a half, but I do enjoy a good competition at my 5k events. I’m looking forward to one in a few weeks.
I’ve found that training while pushing a two-passenger stroller (usually at full capacity) is a sure bet to making race day feel like a walk in the park (well maybe not quite that easy). I’ve also noticed a huge boost in my energy level since giving up desserts. I’m improving my finish times significantly, and I couldn’t be more happy!But the real reason for this challenge boils down to the three cute faces below.
I have to stay healthy and fit if I want to keep up with these kiddos. I’m still amazed at how fast an 18-month-old can bolt towards a busy street (yes, it’s happened many times). That’s not a race I want to lose.
So though it’s been a definite struggle giving up desserts, I’ve had three great reasons to stay strong! Plus, it’s time to regain my willpower and prove to myself that I am in control over what goes into my mouth. My sisters are a wonderful support group and help me stay on track, but so do these Orange Fizz Smoothies.
Satisfying and totally yummy, they fulfill my sweet tooth craving without the guilt of a full-fledged dessert. When I just want to cave and grab a cookie or ten, these delicious drinks are my lifesaver. I love that I can “indulge” and not feel bad about it.
Here’s how to make your own!
{ORANGE FIZZ SMOOTHIES}
Yield: 2 servings
1/8 c. pineapple juice
1 c. frozen fruit mixture (my favorite combo is pineapple, strawberries, peaches, and mango)
1/8 c. orange juice
1/2 c. Ten Sunkist, chilled (add a little more for extra fizzy-ness)
Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse/puree until smooth. It’s as simple as that. Enjoy!
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Now, close to three weeks into my personal 30 Day Challenge, my chocolate cravings (that used to pester me constantly) are muted considerably. I truly feel like a new person now that I’m in control of my eating habits again. And I have more energy to put towards training for my upcoming race and chasing my three active kiddos around.
I urge you to take on the 30 Day Challenge, too, and put it to the test! If I can do it, anyone can! Remember swimsuit season is just around the corner.
So…do you accept? Commit in the comments below! I’d love to hear your goals and success stories as well!
Be sure to follow DPSG on Facebook and to learn more about the TEN beverages!
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