Become a Loser and win a Prize!!! LOL

This contest is now closed.  Congrats to Debra!!!

 

OK, friends, I have pledged to lose ten pounds, and I am helping to feed the hungry in the process!  No, I'm not going to give away my leftovers; I'm participating in the Pound for Pound challenge!!!  I hope you'll join me!!!  Here's some info from the folks who are sponsoring this effort:

The Kroger Co. Family of Stores, General Mills, NBC's hit TV Show "The Biggest Loser" and other key sponsors are partnering to donate up to $1,080,000 to Feeding America this year.


Here´s how you can help:

Visit http://www.pfpchallenge.com/Kroger to make your pledge to lose weight and to get more information and to find tools to change your life for the better. It is free, easy and only takes a minute to make a change that can help you and help the hungry in your local community.

Through June 30, 2010, for every pound you pledge to lose, the Pound For Pound Challenge will donate 14¢ to Feeding America® - enough to deliver one pound of groceries to a local food bank.

As the official supplier of the Biggest Loser Ranch and partner of the Pound for Pound Challenge, the Kroger Family of Stores wants to help you achieve your goals. If you´re a fan of the Biggest Loser, you may have seen several great General Mills products featured on the show. These products, including Yoplait Greek yogurt, Total, and Multigrain Cheerios, are available at your local Kroger Family of Stores and can help you stick to your weight management plan.

So are you into it?  I hope so!  I know some of you are already the perfect weight, but it' a rare person that doesn't need to lost a pound or two. 

Now for the contest!  Would you like a $30 Kroger* card so you can buy some of the products that are featured on Biggest Loser?  Just leave me a comment telling me whether or not you have joined the challenge.  You don't have to tell me how many pounds you pledge to lose if you don't want to. :)   I'll accept comments until Sunday, June 13, 2010 at 11:59 PM.  Anyone can enter who is at least 18 years old and is not in my immediate family.  Of course, you'll want to be in an area where there is a store where you can use the card!  LOL  You must leave me an e-mail address or some other way for me to contact you if you win!!!

I'll also let you get an extra entry for following me on Twitter, Facebook, or as a Google Connect friend.  If you subscribe via Feedburner, I'll give you THREE extra entries.  You must leave a seperate comment for EACH of these additional entries. 

~ The Kroger Family of Stores gift card, information, and giveaway were all provided by the Kroger Family of Stores and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

*The Kroger Family of Stores includes Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralph´s, King Soopers, City Market, Dillon's, Smith´s, Fry´s, QFC, Baker´s, Owen´s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Pay Less Super Markets and Scott´s Food & Pharmacy.
 
Good luck!!!  :)

How About Chocolate Cheerios, Some Recipes, and a SPEED Contest? :)

Mmmmm....  Did you Know that Cheerios now come in CHOCOLATE ???  Well, I didn't until I was sent some from General Mills through MyBlogSpark!  Now, I admit, I'm not the cereal eater in my house.  My kids are.  They love chocolate flavored cereal, so they were really excited to try it.  It got thumbs up all around!!!

Here's some info I got about the Chocolate Cheerios from MyBlogSpark:

Chocolate Cheerios is low in fat, heart healthy, has 100 calories per serving, contains at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving (at least 48 grams recommended daily), and is a good source of calcium and vitamin D. Made with real cocoa, Chocolate Cheerios can help your family start the day off right with a delicious and nutritious breakfast that is sure to make you smile!

In addition, check out these great recipes using Chocolate Cheerios!

Chocolate Cheerios® Marshmallow Hearts

Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Start to Finish: 1 Hour 45 Minutes

Crust
1 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 cup Chocolate Cheerios® cereal, crushed
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups miniature marshmallows
Topping
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 bag (11.5 ounces) milk chocolate chips
4 cups Chocolate Cheerios® cereal
Candy sprinkles, if desired

Heat oven to 350°F. Line bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with foil. In large bowl, mix all crust ingredients except marshmallows with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly. Press firmly into bottom of pan.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven. Immediately sprinkle with marshmallows. Return to oven; bake an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until marshmallows just begin to puff. Cool while preparing topping.

In large saucepan, place all topping ingredients except cereal and sprinkles. Heat over medium-low heat just until chips are melted and mixture is smooth, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in 4 cups cereal. Immediately spoon warm topping over marshmallows; spread to cover. Sprinkle with candy sprinkles. Cool completely, at least 1 hour.

Using foil to lift, remove mixture from pan; remove foil. With deep 2 1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 18 hearts. Store loosely covered.


  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chocolate Hazelnut Marshmallow Balls

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Start to Finish: 15 Minutes
1/2 cup hazelnut spread with cocoa
1/4 cup milk chocolate chips
14 large marshmallows
Toothpicks
3 cups Chocolate Cheerios® cereal
Round wooden sticks with one pointed end or craft sticks
(flat wooden sticks with round ends)

In medium microwavable bowl, microwave hazelnut spread and chocolate chips on high 30 seconds; stir until smooth. Place cereal in shallow dish.
Insert toothpick into marshmallow; dip in chocolate mixture. Roll in cereal to coat completely. Place on large plate; remove toothpick. Repeat with remaining marshmallows. If desired, insert round wooden sticks into each for pops.

Refrigerate 30 minutes or until chocolate is set.
14 servings

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Strawberry-Chocolate Cheerios® Parfaits

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Start to Finish: 15 Minutes
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
4 containers (6 oz each) Yoplait® Light Fat Free strawberry yogurt
2 cups Chocolate Cheerios® cereal
In 4 parfait glasses or clear drinking glasses, layer half of the strawberries, half of the yogurt and half of the cereal. Repeat layers.

Serve immediately

Now for the contest!!!  If you win this contest, you will receive a gift pack that includes a box of Chocolate Cheerios for you to try as well as a chocolate scented spa kit, and a ceramic cereal bowl.  It's easy to enter.  Just leave a comment telling me your favorite cereal.  Also, I'll give you extra entries for:

~Suscribling to Feedburner (THIS IS A DOUBLE BONUS ENTRY, LEAVE TWO COMMENTS!)
~Following me publically
~Becoming a Facebook Fan
~Following me on Twitter
~Taking my poll
~Following me in any other way (other than stalking, of course!)

If you have already done the above, don't fret, just let me know in the comments.  PLEASE COMMENT ONCE FOR EACH THING YOU'VE DONE.  FOR EXAMPLE,  IF YOU'RE A FACEBOOK FAN AND A TWITTER FAN, LEAVE TWO COMMENTS. 

The reason I am calling this a speed contest is that you only have a few days to enter, so do it quickly!!!  All entries must be received by Monday, March 15, 2010 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.  You must leave your e-mail address or some other way for me to contact you , or your entry or entries will be VOID.  You must be at least 18 years old and unrelated to me to enter!

The information and Chocolate Cheerios gift packs were all provided by Cheerios through MyBlogSpark.

Fit Mommy Friday ~ March 5, 2010 ~ More Sly Moves

Well, the whole Rocky thing works for me, so I'm sticking to it.  If you didn't read my post last week, I got the idea to exercise to the theme from Rocky because you can hardly listen to it without feeling some sort of compulsion to work out. 

So Wednesday and Thursday of this week, I put in fifteen minutes of exercise.  Yes, that is fifteen minutes EACH day, or thirty minutes total.  I know, I know, I still have to do another day.  (Though, to be technical, I only promised three days for ten minutes, for a total of thirty minutes, which I've done.)  The plan is to do it some time today, though it might be difficult as we have to go to my in-laws' for a birthday party tonight.

****
Okay, I'm back from the party.  It's after 11:00 PM and I have not exercised, though I did have cake and ice cream!  LOL  I will try to remember to at least do some stretches and crunches before I got to bed.  Not aerobic stuff.  Don't want to get all energized before going to be.  (Like that ever happens!)

Anyway, I am very happy to report that doing 15 minutes actually seemed a bit easier than when I was only doing ten.  I must be doing a little better.  It's going to be a long, long road, but I am determined to walk down it.  I'll be turning 47 soon, and while I'm not exactly a spring chicken, I am not so old that I should be feeling the way I do.  I'll never be a physical trainer, but that doesn't mean I can't feel better than I do now.  The fam needs me!  :)

Are you ready to join in and become a Fit Mommy? Do you wonder how the rest of the girls are doing?  Then come on over to Chai Mommy's blog and read all about it! 

Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! Fiber One Bars and Another Contest!!!

Now, if you know me, you already know that I just LOVE Fiber One bars.  Way back when I first started my blog over at homeschool blogger I posted about my three favorite products.  One was Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, one was Cover Girl Outlast liptick, and one was Fiber One bars!

Now they've gotten even better!  The chocolate bars I was sent courtesy of Fiber One  and MyBlogSpark had a delicious layer of chocolate on the bottom.  And, they are portioned to be only 90 calories per bar!  I love that because I find they are more filling than a candy bar, but have less calories.  Can't beat that!  Plus, of course, they have the fiber!  :)

I was thrilled because when they sent me my box of Fiber One bars, they also sent me a pedometer, a water bottle, and a diet and exercise journal.  How would you like to get everything I did?

That's right!  A contest!!!

The picture above shows everything you will get if you're my lucky winner.  (Sorry the pic is so small, but when I tried to make it larger, it got all blurry.)  Anyway, here's the deal:

To enter, all you need to do is leave me a comment telling me one of your best tips for weight maintenance.  Mine is to not drink calories.  I stick to tea pretty much most of the time.  :) 

This time, though, I am going to give you more ways to enter.  First you must leave your original comment; that will enter you into the contest.  However, if you want more ways to win, come back and comment once for each of the following:

You follow me, or become a follower on Twitter
You are or become a Facebook Fan
You subcribe or sign up to subscribe to my blog through Feedburner
You follow me, or sign up to follow me with Google Friend Connect
You follow me in some other way.  (I can't keep up with them all!  LOL)

YOU MUST MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL OR BLOG ADDRESS OR PROVIDE SOME OTHER WAY FOR ME TO CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN.  ENTRIES THAT DO NOT PROVIDE A WAY FOR ME TO CONTACT YOU WILL BE VOID. 

You must also be 18 or older to win, and unrelated to me.  :)  The contest will end Sunday, March 7 at 11:59 PM Eastern time. 

Fiber One® provided me with the free product, information, and gift packs through MyBlogSpark.

Fit Mommy Friday ~ Week 8 ~ My Sly Moves

Well, first I have to admit that, as I write, I did exercise three times, but the first two times were not for a full ten minutes, so before I go to bed tonight, I need to put in at least ten more minutes to satisfy my commitment to God and all my Fit Mommy friends!!!

One day this week, I don't remember which, my kids actually decided to watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I happened to be in the room during the part of the movie where the Oompa Loompa does his dance.  If you remember from last week, the Oompa Loompa is my dance instructor.  So I danced along.  That only lasted around 3 or 4 minutes, though.

On Wednesday, I had some groceries to put away.  I put on the Rocky theme as I put them in the cupboards.  I was having a grand old time hamming it up as I exercised my way from the living room to the kitchen several times, often "weight lifting" with things like cans of soup.  That was maybe another 4 or 5 minutes.

Then Thursday, I decided that the since the Rocky theme worked for me, I ought to use it.  I had my daughter hook up her MP3 player to my computer speakers so I could play the theme as I exercised.  We put it on loop.  I "trained" like Sylvester Stallone in the Rocky movies.  I jumped rope, boxed, ran in place, etc.  I have to say, there is just something about that song.  When I am exercising to the Rocky theme I just feel compelled to exercise.  It's funny that it works like that, but it does.  I even went over and did 12 minutes! 

Last night I planned to do 10 more minutes.  (It was actually Friday as I am a day late finishing this.)  I did 5 but had to get up help one of my kids do something.  I never did go back and do that last five minutes.  However, I am not going to kick myself over it.   I was only 5 minutes short, but I am sure I got a few extra minutes in here and there.  For example, during Praise and Worship time at church, we play some songs that we clap and sorta "move" too.  What can I say?  David danced before the Lord, and you should all just be glad I was fully dressed. :)

Now, I am even making some strides in my eating.  I am participating in Lent this year.  I have been doing this for the last few years.  I'm not Catholic, so I don't follow Lent as far as no meat on Fridays or anything, but I do give something up and try to just get closer to the Lord at this time.  Yes, I am always trying to get closer to the Lord, don't get me wrong, but there is something about putting aside my flesh in anticipation of Easter that just does something for me. 

Now, I am not "doing Lent" to lose weight or anything like that.  It's purely a spiritual thing.  However, I have to say that it can't hurt in the purely physical sense.  I have given up all pop and candy and will only eat sweet snacks in a social environment (this has only happened once and I ate a Weight Watchers snack at my friend Barb's.)  I haven't weighed myself, and I think I won't.  I don't want to lose my focus. 

So, there you go.  I am trying really hard to work in some exercise in a fun way.  I am trying to serve the Lord, but what can I say?  Serving the Lord is good for me in more ways than the spiritual. 

I am so pathetic compared to, say, our  fearless leader Denise who is practically an exercise guru.  However, compared to where I was at, I am an exercise guru myself.  Next week I am simply going to try to continue to do my three days of ten minutes. I'll keep working on my sly moves, and who knows, maybe I'll even knock myself out!  (Sorry!)

I have just one more thing to say:

YO ADRIAN!!!

To see how all the other Fit MOMMYS did this week check out Chai Mommy's blog here. 

WIN A FREE MAKEOVER OR PROGRESSO PRIZE PACK!!!

Sorry!  My contest is now closed, but you can still enter to win the NYC Makeover!!!

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by! Won't you be my friend? Just check out my sidebar for lots of way to stay connected to my blog!!!

Can you even imagine winning a free makeover in New York City? Like, yeah, that would be totally cool! I need all the help I can get! Well, I was excited to find out that I can enter the contest, and so can you! The instructions for entering are below, but please humor me and let me tell you about another contest that I am having with a little help from MyBlogSpark right here on my blog!

A while back, I was contacted by MyBlogSpark to see if I might want to try out their Progresso soups as well as get a free jump roap and mug. Well, duh! LOL Soup is great to have around during the cold winter months. They make for an easy to prepare and tasty lunch. What I really like, though, is that they sent me 15 cans of soup including both Progresso Light and 100 Calorie Soups. If you read my blog much, you'll know that I am TRYING to get in better shape. I figure eating a light lunch is just one small step I can take to achieve that goal! (*Note: Mr. Personality, I just realized, is eating a can of my soup as I type!)

Would you like to win two cans of soup, a jump rope and a mug? It's easy to enter. Just leave a comment telling me what your favorite soup is. I will choose the winner on March 1, 2010 You must enter by 11:59 P.M. on February 28, 2010.  You must be 18 to enter and unrelated to me!  :)  Note: This does NOT enter you in the contest for the makeover.

Also, you must leave me an e-mail or blog/ address unless I know you personally and can figure out who you are from your comment. I will NOT include your comment in the drawing if I don't know who you are and have no way of contacting you.

Now, on to the BIG contest!!!

Progresso “Souper You Debut” Contest

From January 4 through March 15th, you can visit http://www.Progresso.com/SouperYou to enter the Progresso “Souper You Debut” contest for the chance to win a full makeover in New York City.

Three grand prize winners will be awarded a trip for two to New York City from May 21st-23rd. The prize includes round-trip airfare, a two-night stay in a NYC hotel, a full makeover, a $1,000 wardrobe shopping spree, and personal consultation at a New York department store.

To enter, you’ll need to do the following:

Go to www.Progresso.com/SouperYou to learn more and enter the contest.

Submit your essay (200 characters or less) telling Progresso why you love Progresso Light or 100 Calorie Soups and why you would like a makeover.

In addition, please submit a photo of yourself that visually reinforces the theme of your essay.

Once you enter, you’ll have the chance for your photo and/or an excerpt from your essay to appear on http://www.Progresso.com/SouperYou, so be sure to check back frequently! Once the 10 finalists are announced, you can visit www.Progresso.com/SouperYou from March 29 through April 12 to vote for your favorite.

In addition, throughout the duration of the contest you can visit http://www.Progresso.com/SouperYou  to download a coupon for $1 off any three varieties of Progresso Soup!

So there you have it. Two contest for you to enter this time around! I'm looking forward to announcing the winner, and maybe even winning a makeover myself!!!

NOTE: The Progresso soup, gift pack, information, and giveaway were all provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

Fit Mommy Friday ~ Week 5

 

I know you're all dying for an update from me.  Well, I actually do have a little bit of good news to report!  Thanks to Michelle's nagging encouragement, I did exercise twice this week for ten minutes!  (Yes, I mean ten minute EACH time!  LOL)

On both Monday and Wednesday I actually set my little microwave timer and exercised.  I am not exaggerating when I tell you that ten minutes has me feeling like I need to call 911.  I am that out of shape.  To make things easier on myself, on Wednesday, I had my daughter put on Weird Al so I could dancercise away those pounds.  I haven't weighed myself lately, but I doubt too many of those pounds have actually dancercised too far home, but it's something, isn't it? 

Can't say my eating has been great, but I do try to hold back just a little.  Looking forward to Lent when I give up all sweets completely.  Of course, then I am just compelled to eat a lot of salty stuff, so I'm not sure how much good it does me spiritually, but I suppose it can't hurt.

Anyway, that's it.  Not much to tell, but I am making baby steps. 

Michelle, I'm counting on you to keep on me again this week!  :)

To see how the rest of the gals are doing, click here. 

Fit Mommy Friday: Week 4

STOP!!! I'd really like it if you'd take the poll in my sidebar, if you haven't already. (Scroll down.) Also, from my sidebar, you can follow me on Twitter and become a Facebook Fan.

NEW!!! You can now subscribe to my blog via e-mail!!! Yes, that's right, just type in your e-mail address in the sidebar and get my posts delivered right to your inbox! I know it's what you always dreamed of, right??? LOL

Okay, so I skipped out on week three.  I admit it, I failed.  Miserably. 

So here we are again.  I do have to mention that I did actually take Annie Kate up on the challenge to do eight minutes.  Right after she challenged me I set my microwave timer for eight minutes and began to exercise.  Funny thing, I didn't hear it go off, and it was probably at least ten minutes before I realized it seemed like it had been a while.  I went to the kitchen to find it flashing "end."  Way to go, me!  Too bad it was an isolated incident.

That was the last of my exercise with the exception of one evening when I remembered my goals and did a whopping ten jumping jacks.  I'm a real exercise junkie, ain't I?

Okay, something must change here.  I promised to "try" last time.  This time I think I need to promise to actually DO something.  The problem is, I am always just so focused on everything else I do around here.  I do have eight children, a husband, a house, etc.  Yeah, yeah, I know, all the more reason to get and stay in shape.
 
So, this is what I'm going to do.  I am going to add exercise to my list of things to do each day.  I give the kids a list each day, and I used to make myself one.  I need to do that again.  I'm sick right now, but I'll start Monday.  KEEP ON ME ABOUT THIS!!! 
Now, it probably won't be much.  Maybe a few jumping jacks or lifting some light weights.  Whatever it is, it has to be better than nothing, which is pretty much what I do now.  I just keep getting fatter and out of shape, and if I don't do something soon, I'll be too fat and out of shape to do anything!

So, here it is:  I PROMISE to do more this week.  Do you hear me.  I PROMISE!!!  So, keep on me.  Bug me.  Threaten me.  Bribe me with chocolate.  Well, maybe not, that would work, but it would be a bit counter-productive!  LOL

Anyway, I'll see you all next Friday.  I WILL be reporting some progress!

Click HERE to see how everyone else did this week!!!

Fit Mommy Friday: Week 2

Okay, peeps, you want the good news first?  Or the bad news?

All right, the bad news is that it's nearly noon on Friday, and I have yet to exercise.  That's right, not for one minute.  Now Annie Kate challenged me huge to break my record and do eight, and I am really going to try to do that.  If I do, I will come back and update. 

Now technically I did to a teeny tiny bit of exercise.  Last Sunday the fam went sledding.  I hate cold, and thus, sledding is not my thing.  Well, I suppose I'd like it if it were, say 70 degrees or more out. 

Anyway, the place we went also has toboggan runs, and I was determined to go down once.  I did.  I was fun, I admit.  BUT!  Getting off the thing was a challenge in itself.  I have bad knees and it was not pretty.  Then I had to walk back UP that hill.

So I started up the hill, s l o w l y.  Yeah, I mean, I have asthma too.  You see, I've got LOTS of excuses for being so out of shape.  So it's taking me a while and Sane Man actually had to send out the dogs!  Well, he sent out one.  He had one of the kids take the dog to me so she could PULL me back up that hill.  He stood at the top and called to her so she would go up.  Now THAT, my friends, is pathetic. 

Oh, well.

BUT!!!  I do have some good news.  Earlier in the week I weighed in at 166.6.

Today I weighted 165.6.  You do the math.  Girlfriends, that is a WHOLE POUND!  Do you hear me?  A WHOLE POUND!!!

So, it's all good.  I have made a baby step towards my goal of hitting 140 sometime again in this lifetime (without getting some terminal disease.) 

So, yeah.

To participate or just read other Fit Mommy Friday posts, click here.