4 Ways to Go Healthy at the Coffee Shop

Anyone who knows me well, knows I LOVE my coffee.  I love the smell of it and the taste of it.  MMMMMmmmmm ! I can smell it brewing now.
While trying to get a hold of my quest for being healthy, I came across this article on  how to make better decisions while you're at your favorite coffee house.
 
So, here it goes.....

You walk into your favorite café with the full intent of sticking to a cup of black coffee. But then you're met with an abundant display of syrupy, creamy drinks whipped to perfection as well as sweet and savory baked goods so fresh they appear to be calling your name-and all your willpower goes out the window. Do you have to give up your favorite coffee shop when you're trying to watch what you eat? Not at all. Follow these tips on how to enjoy your coffee shop stop without blowing your diet.

Think small. If you simply must have a latte, frappe, or double-hazelnut-vanilla-chocolate macchiato to get your day started, go for it, but ask for the smallest size. Many coffee shops advertise their small size as a "tall" (that's code-speak for medium), but behind the counter, they also offer a "short" or smaller sized cup. Ask for nonfat milk instead of whole milk and sugar-free syrups. A 16oz. latte made with whole milk is 265 calories. A 12oz. latte made with nonfat milk is only 125. Better yet, go for a nonfat cappuccino with only 75 calories.

Think clear. To really save on coffee shop calories, there's nothing better than black coffee (zero calories). If you need some sweetener or flavoring, add a little sugar, which has only 15 calories per teaspoon and some cinnamon (zero calories). Artificial sweeteners are calorie-free, but they may not be your healthiest choice. If black coffee is too strong for you, add a splash (not a puddle) of low-fat milk.

Make a choice. If you choose a no- (or very low-) calorie beverage, you might be able to afford the calories in a small bakery item. But if you opt for a higher calorie beverage, skip the doughnut or muffin. Think about portion size. Most muffins constitute two or three portion sizes (according to guidelines provided by the USDA). Cut your baked item in quarters, ask for a to-go bag, and share the rest with your coworkers.

I have a Kerig coffee maker at home and I love it, because I am in control of what kind of coffee or tea I make for myself. But, of course we are not home all the time so I am just going to make a  decision know all the coffee facts.

  Now excuse me, it's time for my coffee break!  ;-0

hanging in there

I know I haven't written a post in a while.  Mostly because my life has been so busy.  Busy in a good way though.  I just became a grandmother for the second time.  My daughter just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, so this has been an exciting time.  My son is about to graduate from Kutztown University next week and I am so proud of him.  I  have also been busy opening our shore home and dealing with the ins and outs of running a daycare.   So, Yes I have been busy......

BUT 

That is no reason for me not to keep on top of things. Here is a list of how my health is coming along.

• I have been eating mostly fresh foods, but I have been over loading on sweets ( mostly baked goods that I have made)
• I have been working my arms and legs twice a week, but I have had a hard time getting my cardo in..
• My blood Pressure has been up so my doctor put me on a new medication. I hope it starts to work.
•  I should be loosing weight, but I have only been teetering with a 5 lbs weight loss. This is not enough to help me lower my BP.
• I have been tired and crash very early in the evening, but so are most of us after a busy day.
• One more thing, this menopause has been kicking my butt, but all of us woman go through this, so I deal with it.

 I am just taking things slow and easy. I want to feel healthy without it being such a challenge

Email Post

I get so many emails telling me to resend this email to X amount of friends and something good will happen.  I am sure all of us Diva's get these crazy emails from time to time.  I very rarely respond to them.  The messages are nice to read, but I don't like to resend them to others.   Even if you don't respond to them, who wants to have some crazy idea that something bad may happen.  After all, we have the whole "Power of Attraction" thing going on.  I would rather attract positive actions rather then negative actions.
But anyway, I really like this email I received and I love the person that sent it to me even more. So, I thought I would post it instead of sending it to others.  No need to fret if you don't send it to others.  Just live it!

***************I grew up with practical parents. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a name for it... A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away.. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things.. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep. It was a way of life, and  sometimes it made me crazy.. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more. But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return.. So... while we have it..... it's best we love it.... and care for it... and fix it when it's broken......... and heal it when it's sick. This is true. for marriage....... and old cars..... and children with bad report cards..... and dogs with bad hips.... and aging parents..... and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a   best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special........ and so, we keep them close! I received this from someone who thinks I am a 'keeper', so I've sent it to the people I think of in the same way... Now it's your turn to send this to those people that are "keepers" in your life.  Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.  Keep them close! TEN THINGS GOD WON 'T ASK ON THAT DAY. 1.... God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.. 2... God won't ask the square footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home. 3.... God won't   ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe. 4... God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it. 5.... God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability. 6... God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend. 7.... God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors. 8... God won't ask about the color of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character. 9.... God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell. 10... God won't have to ask how many people you forwarded this to, He already knows your decision.