Healthy Shopping Made Easy

You may already know to look for The Best Life seal (and treat seal) to help you spot healthy products at the grocery store. Here are some other tricks you can use as you're pushing your cart through the aisles to load up on the right stuff:

1. Read labels carefully. Don't judge a food by the claims on the front of the package. An "all natural" soda, for example, is filled with sugar (technically a "natural" ingredient) and is high in calories. And many low-fat products have almost as many calories as their full-fat cousins. You can only determine whether a food is nutritious by reading the ingredients and the nutrition facts panel on the food label on the back of the product. So be sure to flip the product over and investigate before tossing anything into your cart.

2. Try new foods. Whether you're just starting to eat healthfully or have been following a healthy eating plan for years, trying new foods helps to mix things up and keeps you excited about your diet. On every trip to the store, make it a point to try a new fruit, veggie, or food product. You never know—you may just find a new favorite!

3. Never shop without a list. Browsing the aisles aimlessly without a list is a really bad idea. In fact, grocery shopping without a list is like taking a road trip without a map. Instead, make a list of what you need, and stick to it. (TheBestLife.com automatically compiles a weekly shopping list for you based on your meal plan, making shopping even easier!)

4. Stock up on the right foods. Avoid bringing home the jumbo or economy size of hard-to-resist foods. When a craving strikes, a giant bag of chips in your cabinet or a gallon of ice cream in your freezer is a diet disaster just waiting to happen. Let's face it, if you don't have it in your house when a craving strikes, you probably won't venture out to buy it! Remember, junk food is packed with calories and is completely lacking in nutrition. Even on sale, it's certainly no bargain for your health or your waistline.

5.  Ask questions. If a product, claim, or food commercial has you stumped, ask a professional (members of TheBestLife.com can email a registered dietitian or fitness professional any time with their questions) or an expert for clarification. The more you know, the
better you'll shop!  

Michelle's Marathon Training Update: Goal-Getting

I was finally able to get in my big run while I was on vacation. I had changing my plans a number of times to accommodate visiting family and friends, and hadn't had a chance to get it in. But I made a promise to myself before bed one night and the next morning, I did it! I let everyone know what my plan was so that they could all help take care of Reid while I was gone. After I woke up and fed the baby, my parents took him to play, and I was off. 

I put my headphones on and listened to some of the great music that Best Life members suggested in an article on the site, and I was able to relax and enjoy the run. I was happy, energized and ready for whatever the rest of the day threw at me because I had set a goal and accomplished it! What a great feeling!

For more advice on getting in shape and staying motivated, check out TheBestLife.com.

Setting Goals to Get Back on Track

I've always heard that you should cherish each day with your children because before you know it, they'll be all grown up. Well, Reid isn't that grown up yet, but time does seem to be flying. In fact, in the almost 15 weeks since he was born, I still haven't really figured out a routine yet. 

I notice that more often than not, I allow something to come up and take priority over my workouts, like cooking dinner, getting Reid's things ready for daycare or my things for work the next day or just catching up with my husband. At the time, it feels necessary but then I look back and feel that I didn't put myself first. I can see how sticking to my workouts and getting back on track is going to be more challenging than simply setting an appointment. I read an article on TheBestLife.com in which member Jennifer Hepka shared her own set of wishes and goals, and after reading her story, I realized what I had to do. I had to set a specific goal for myself, so I'd be compelled to see it through.

In 2005, my husband and I ran the Philadelphia marathon. It was a great experience and we actually spent a lot of time together while training. So last week, we sat down to figure out how to make ourselves a priority. We both agreed: We would train for a marathon! We signed up quickly for the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. this October.

It's a scary thought and we have A LOT of work to do, but we will be doing it together. Now the appointments we made for ourselves to hit the gym are a necessity—if we don't do it, we won't cross the finish line in October. After our first run (four miles) this last weekend, we went to the store and purchased a jogging stroller so now the entire family will be able to go for a run together.

I'm excited and nervous all at once, but I'm happy that we have something we are working toward. I am also glad that we are setting a good example for our son—not only about the importance of fitness, but following through with goals and sharing time with family. 

For more on setting goals and sticking to a workout routine, join TheBestLife.com.

Best Life Get-Together: Members Travel to Tennessee

Bob Greene and the Best Life team would like to highlight an amazing group of members (and friends) who successfully planned a trip last week to Tennessee. Below is a description from one of the members, Cookie, and a few pictures of the friends in their customized Best Life green jackets. Members can read all about their trip as journaled by the members on the message boards. Congrats ladies!
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I'm Cookie from NJ and the 50+BestLifers 1/20/08 thread. We've been hanging out together, motivating each other for over a year now with other newbies stopping in and joining up with us.

About six months ago we all decided that we should make plans for a GTG (Get ToGether) and all meet in person.

One of our gals, Judy from Chicago had been to a resort in Sevierville, TN with family and suggested that we check it out. You can do the same thing if you'd like (www.oakhavenresort.com).

I called the Resort and found out it was all a "do-able" thing, so we made reservations for lodging for April 30th to May 3rd. We've been doing a count down since about 120 days and now here it is right on top of us. The excitement is mounting. Bob Greene even knows we're all getting together and we've bought green jackets with 'Living My BEST LIFE' printed on the back of them. Cool

One by one we made flight reservations into Knoxville and two of us are driving in. We've planned our menus for the weekend and have our grocery shopping list with all of our BL meals and snacks ready to go. We'll do our shopping out there.

I have all of my Wii Fit and Wii Outdoor Challenge and Wii Sports equipment ready to go. The Leslie Sansone DVDs, elastic bands, weights and waist belt are all ready to go along for the fun.

The final count is 10 gals. Seven of us are BL, with three travel companions joining us. Besides myself (Grancookie) and a traveling companion Carol who is following the Best Life Diet, these ladies will be coming: Judy (judynsc) from Chicago, IL with her daughter who is also on the Program; Donna (Donabella) from Fenton, MO is driving in; Suzanne (Suzi-Q) from Southwest Ranches, FL; Ginger (GingerK49) from OR along with her traveling companion Norma; and Melanie (Critter7789) from Alta Loma, CA along with her sister Peggy.

Look out Tennessee, here come "Bob's girls!"