You may want to sit down for this...

Olive Garden and Red Lobster have released their nutrition facts....GOO.....that is all I can say. The majority of their main dishes range from 800-1500 calories for one dish. (Remember that isn't counting the OG breadsticks at 150 calories a pop and the RL cheese rolls ringing in at 150 calories as well...remember this is just for ONE.)
Check them out, kinda scary...

OLIVE GARDEN NUTRITION FACTS


RED LOBSTER NUTRITION FACTS

The good news is both restaurants do have lighter fare options available. Eating out isn't ruled out when trying to eat healthy. It's just knowing what to order. Look at these menu's and consider yourself prepared. You'll know what you should order when you go out, and what to avoid. Remember folks, Knowledge is power.

ode to Hungry Girl...

If you haven't noticed my link to the Hungry Girl website before, you must go there ASAP! I am absolutely in LOVE. Lisa Lillien is a genius. She is a normal girl who loves to eat...don't we all? She takes recipes that we LOVE and makes them with a TON less calories and the same great taste. I have been following her website for almost a year now, and so I was SO excited to hear she was coming out with a cookbook. I was even more excited when Benita bought it for me for Christmas! I spent about 3 hours just pouring over it. I'm already a HUGE fan of her Peanut Butter FUDGE recipe. Yep you heard right... Aside from great recipes there are a lot of great tips and ideas. It is awesome! I have a list of recipes I've been dying to try, but haven't had time yet. I'll keep you posted!
Hungry Girl has posted a shopping list for 2009. It is complete with all of her favorite products, and it is really great. Look it over (you can even print it out in PDF form), it will give you plenty of great ideas to mix up your meals!

Font Color Change :)

I've had a bunch of people tell me my font is really hard to read. Sorry bout that!! I'm going to change it to black, so hopefully that helps!

It's that time again.

I love this show. Love. Love. Love.

Fabulous Food Find

You HAVE to try these. Have to. Jell-O Fat free/sugar free pudding packs. At 60 calories a pop and 0 grams of fat you'll be in heaven. They are really SO good. A great little treat for the sweet tooth in you. They are found in the refrigerated section. My favorite kind is the Chocolate Banana. Delightful. Try em.


You HAVE to try these. Have to.

Exercise of the Week: Upright Row to a Deadlift combo

You know I love my 2-in-1 combination exercises. This one is a great one! The upright row is one of the best shoulder sculpting exercises there is, and dead lifts are great for the hamstrings and glutes. Grab yourself two dumbbells or a bar. I like to use a bar because it makes it easier to control a heavier amount of weight. Don't be afraid to push yourself here. Your legs can probably handle at least 40/50 lbs with the deadlifts at first startings, so go for whatever your shoulders can muster. Also, remember...good form is key here, so if you're throwing away good form at the chance to up that weight, I pick good form. The heavier weight will come with time. Grab your dumbbells and stand with your legs straight feet shoulder width apart, hold your weights in front of you with your palms facing your legs. Begin with an upright row. Pulling your elbows up to your ears. Keep those shoulders pressed down, and your abs tight.


As you bring your arms back down go straight into a dead lift. Keeping your legs straight, let that weight drag you down as if you were going to set it on the ground. Go as far as you can keeping your back flat, and then straighten back up squeezing your glutes and hammies on the way back up.
If you are super flexible I'd recommend doing these on a step or bench so you can take the weight down past your toes. To make the exercise a little harder, when at the bottom of the dead lift press the weight away from your legs (in a controlled motion) bring it back towards your legs, and then come back up.
*make sure to stretch out your hamstrings after this one! I promise it will work them!!!

Welcome 2009, I hope you've brought with you some motivation...

Happy New Year Everyone! New Years is such a great time for new beginnings. In with the new, out with the old, right? I'm challenging you. Here, now, today. Decide on a goal to improve your health in 2009. Make it doable. Make it reasonable. Make it count. Feel free to post your goals, because i'd love to hear them, and it may give others some ideas!
Here is a few popular ones if you want some ideas...
- lose weight (set an actual number goal, something to work towards)
- drink more water
- eat more fruits and vegetables
- stop eating junk, sugar (again, give yourself something to measure by. "i'll limit myself to two treats a week, etc.)
- run a race
- exercise more (how many days a week? for how long?)
- Eat out less
- stop eating _________.
- Learn kickboxing, Yoga, Pilates, etc.
- Do 50 consecutive push-ups
....you get the idea. Although the list is continually growing my two goals thus far are. Run the Salt Lake City Marathon in April, and continue on my "No Sugar Challenge." Here we go!!

Thanks for being such great readers in 2008! I am excited for another new year of blogging! Some posts to look forward to in the near future...
- a slew of new workouts for you to try out!
- "See Megan Run" - my journey through marathon training for your reading pleasure
- some fun giveaways of my favorite workout gadgets
- Some great healthy recipe finds....and much much more. Stay tuned!!