FINALLY! NEW Podcast! Yes, really!

FINALLY!

The question I get asked the most this time of year, "How can I stay motivated during the Holidays?"

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Featuring Weight Watchers FAQ & more!

FOLLOW BOOK VS MOVIE ON BTR: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bookvsmovie

Wishing you Happy Holidays with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

Disclosure: All opinions, content, views and ideas expressed on Nacho Mama's Podcast are strictly my own and those of my guests and are presented for entertainment and informational purposes only. It is strongly advised that you consult professional guidance when considering anything discussed on Nacho Mama's Blog or Nacho Mama's Podcast. This podcast is not affiliated with Weight Watchers and producer is not compensated in any way. ALL PODCAST CONTENT Blogtalkradio.com/NachoMamasPodcast is © Nacho Mama and nachomamasblog.com, 2009-2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of podcast content without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

THANKSGIVING ZUMBA PLAYLIST 2014!

Thank you for ordering those holiday pies at www.mamaspies.org!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Hello dumplings!

As always, I'll be hosting a free Zumba class on Thanksgiving Eve. I love putting together "theme" playlists and have changed it up a little this year. This is a great playlist for your holiday walk (Turkey Trot) or run as well - the important thing is to MOVE before we all sit down for the big feast. 

WARMUP

Thank You For Being a Friend by Andrew Gold 

Yes, it's the GG theme, but I've always loved the Harry Nilsson influence here. What better way to say THANK YOU?

CARDIO

Everybody Eats by Cab Calloway

Nothing like a little jitterbug to get the heart pumpin'!

Mash Potato by Chubby Checker

A fabulous twist on...the twist.

ARM TONING

I Thank You by Sam and Dave

CARDIO

All You Can Eat by Candye Kane

She's not called "the toughest woman alive" for nothing!

EAT IT by Wierd Al Yankovic
Even FASTER than the original by MJ, this one is a scorcher!

STANDING AB TONING
String Bean by The Griffin Brothers
Seriously, how cute if this?

CARDIO
Weight by Latrice Royale
Latrice gets a place at my table anytime.

Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie by Jay and the Techniques
My mom used to make all THREE of these pies for Thanksgiving!

LEGS and BUMS TONING
Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf) by Sly and the Family Stone
Feel the burn!

COOLDOWN
We Are Family by Sister Sledge
Time to remember the folks who've got your back, or who are driving you to eat in the first place!

If you're reading this anywhere but NachoMamasBlog.com, then you are reading stolen content, my friend. Please don't support thieving cochinos, just get this stuff from the source at NachoMamasBlog.com!

Wishing you ALL a HAPPY THANKSGIVING with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama

NEW PODCAST! Ep.62: Halloween Survival Guide

It's been waaay too long! But I've finally carved out some time to get back to Nacho Mama's Podcast and answer some of the questions you've been sending me about getting through the holidays. Yes, they're coming!

I've been getting a lot of questions about getting through HALLOWEEN. Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. But for many years of my adulthood, Halloween meant buying candy in September, eating it all, buying it again in October, passing it out to a few cute kids and then shutting off the lights so I could sit on the sofa eating the rest of the candy while watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown". 

But after I joined Weight Watchers, my husband and I started changing the way we approach Halloween. Now it's the kickoff for a healthy, active holiday season. So I decided to share my 6 Top Tips for enjoying Halloween without destroying your health goals!

Click the player to listen NOW (or subscribe to Nacho Mama's Podcast on iTunes or Stitcher):

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Get Dani's FABULOUS tips (including her candy list, with Points) for Halloween HERE.

Subscribe to MY Youtube Channel-Featuring Weight Watchers FAQ & more! at: https://www.youtube.com/user/mediamonarkey

FOLLOW BOOK VS MOVIE ON BTR: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bookvsmovie

Wishing you love with extra cheese,

Nacho Mama 

Disclosure: All opinions, content, views and ideas expressed on Nacho Mama's Podcast are strictly my own and those of my guests and are presented for entertainment and informational purposes only. It is strongly advised that you consult professional guidance when considering anything discussed on Nacho Mama's Blog or Nacho Mama's Podcast. I am also not affiliated with Weight Watchers-just a regular, paying customer, folks. ALL PODCAST CONTENT Blogtalkradio.com/NachoMamasPodcast is © Nacho Mama and nachomamasblog.com, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of podcast content without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Hope you're spending the day together with the people you love!

Wishing you HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

A Mexcellent Playlist for Your CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION!!

Lighting a vela for YOUR Cinco party!

Hola everyone!

As a Mexcellent-American and a native of Southern California, this day is always a little funny for me. Even though Cinco de Mayo is a holiday we NEVER celebrated in my family when I was a kid, I really love that this country takes a day to celebrate Mexican culture, crafts, food and more! HOWEVER...even here in America's Finest City ("I can see Mexico from my house!") Cinco de Mayo celebrations often take a few, um, liberties. 

Yes, I'm talking about the music.

Will I be my Valentine? #gratitude

This could have been me, but it wasn't!

HAPPY VALENTINES WEEKEND everyone!


Hope you've been enjoying the Valentines/Presidents Day(s) long weekend combo. I had the BEST Valentines Day, so good I wanted to share it with you.


I didn't get a card.
I didn't get candy.
I didn't get flowers.


Now, I know it doesn't look like much on paper, but hear me out! When I was a kid, my parents used to make the HUGEST deal about Valentines Day! My dad would always get candy and flowers for my mom and my sister and I would usually wake up to cards and presents. As you can imagine, that made me feel pretty special. The problem is, I mistakenly thought the cards/candy/presents were what made me special, rather than the emotion behind them. This set up a rather unfortunate standard for my poor husband, who has suffered through many holidays since with a wife who was pouting because he didn't "do Valentines/Easter/Christmas right". I know! Poor guy.


Because here's the thing about my husband:


1. He's ridiculously supportive. Seriously, if I called him into the room right now and told him I'd decided my life's calling was to teach pole-dancing to the Amish? He'd be all, "Um...okay. So when do you need me to watch the kids?"


2. He leaves me sweet notes and texts and facebook posts telling me he loves me ALL THE TIME. Just because! He also surprises me with flowers on random days, just because. Sigh.


3. He knows that if he brought me candy? I'd definitely be thrilled, until it was gone. Then, in my sugar crash, I'd be the one whining, "WHY would you give me candy?!! Do you HATE me?"


So listen to what he did on Valentines. First, he let me SLEEP IN. And then? He did something that NO card or bunch of flowers or California Brittle (my favorite See's candy, fyi) could ever do:


He took our daughter out to lunch. Just the two of them. Yes, he did this for Valentines Day, but this is something he does ALL the time. Takes time just for her, to do what she wants, to listen to her and to make her feel special. And seeing her smile to herself when they came home? Best. Valentine. Ever.


Do you see where I'm going with this? For years, I was so hung up on whether all the boxes had been checked that I almost missed the really good stuff!


I also came across this uh-mazing post by Leonie Dawson on the true meaning of Valentines Day-I think she says it way better than I'm doing here. So just go read what she wrote-seriously, you won't be sorry! You might even discover you had a better Valentines Day than you thought.
http://leoniedawson.com/soulmates/


Hope you ALL had a wonderful Valentines weekend, and that you feel loved. Because you are!




Wishing you love with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama

CHRISTMAS ZUMBA PLAYLIST!

Celebrating the holidays at Slimmons with Richard, 2011

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYBODY!

How's Christmas Eve treatin' ya so far? I spent the morning subbing a Weight Watchers meeting - which had a way better turnout than I was expecting, we even had TWO members reach LIFETIME! Then this evening I taught a Very Special Zumba Class, featuring some great holiday music to work up a sweat to.

If you need some tunes to help you get your groove on and earn some Activity Points for that cup of eggnog tomorrow, check out my CHRISTMAS ZUMBA PLAYLIST!

A Weight Watcher's HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

My Mama Lola opening the Christmas tablecloth I made for her, ca.1980

Can you believe there are only TEN shopping days left til Christmas? I can't.
I haven't even put my tree out yet. Guess I'd better get on the jingle bell.

I've been getting SO many emails and messages from you all, asking about Weight Watchers' new SIMPLE START innovation (stay tuned-there will be a podcast forthcoming!). I've also gotten a ton of messages from people who are NOT on WW, asking for gift ideas for the special Weight Watcher in their life. So...I thought it was the perfect opportunity to put together a GIFT GUIDE!

Please note: I WAS NOT CONTACTED BY ANY OF THE MANUFACTURERS MENTIONED, nor was I compensated in any way for recommending the following products, nor do I stand to make a SINGLE CENT if you buy them. I just really think they're cool!

THANKSGIVING ZUMBA PLAYLIST!

So I just finished my pre-Thanksgiving Zumba class and, since I worked so hard on it (sheesh!), I thought I'd share my playlist. Also Margo of Brooklyn Fit Chick (aka "the other Margo")frequently shares her fitness playlists and, well, I'm a huge copycat, ok?

Is Margo doing it? Then so am I!

NACHO MAMA'S THANKSGIVING FITNESS PLAYLIST
(also suitable for playing while cooking)

WARMUP: Andrew Gold, "Thank You For Being a Friend"
If you threw a party, inviting everyone you knew, you would see the biggest gift would probably be from someone else, but the card attached would be from me and it would say, "It's not the size of the gift that matters, it's what you do with it."

CARDIO: Sam & Dave ,"I Thank You"
Well, obviously.

Cab Calloway, "Everybody Eats When They Come to My House"
I've always loved this one, "Have the salami, Tommy." If I had a nickel...

El Gran Combo, "Me Libere"
Because I always have to have at least one salsa routine, plus this one always makes me feel thankful.

Candye Kane, "All You Can Eat"
A hometown girl who always delivers with extra cheese.

 

Katrina & The Waves, "Walking on Sunshine"
I can't remember who suggested this one(sorry!) but was this song an advertiser's dream or what? "FINALLY!! The perfect song to sell our pizza/insurance/pantiliners!"

Oliver! original cast, "Consider Yourself"
Yeah, I'm not above a little Broadway in the service of sweat.

Sister Sledge, "We Are Family"
This song always reminds me of the gospel brunch at Lips, a local drag club.

Weird Al Yankovic, "Eat It"
I was so stumped for Thanksgiving songs! I can't believe NO ONE suggested this one. I'm very, very disappointed in all of you.

STANDING ABS ROUTINE: Sly & The Family Stone, "Thank You Fa Lettin Me Be Mice Elf"
I chose this song for our toning routine because it's almost as long as it is funky.

COOLDOWN: Sarah Vaughn, "Thanks for the Memories"
I've always LOVED this version of this song. Recorded live at the end of an amazing show. You can hear how much Sarah is OVER IT, and yet she still squeezes the most out of this number.

Wishing you ALL a HAPPY THANKSGIVING with extra cheese!
Nacho Mama

RECIPE REDESIGN: Claire Robinson PUMPKIN GINGER TART

I have given this recipe to so many people in the last week that I thought I should just post it here! I saw it on "5 Ingredient Fix" last week, I love Claire Robinson!

I gave it a shot and, despite being the worst baker in the United States, it came out DELICIOUS. So I put it into the Weight Watchers Recipe Builder (available to WW members on eTools) and, for 12 servings,  it was 8 pointsplus per serving. Which...didn't quite cut it for me.

So I made a few swaps. And OK, I added a sixth ingredient. So here's MY version of this tart:

Nacho Mama's SIX Ingredient Pumpkin Tart

Preheat oven to 350 degress

THE CRUST
-1 cup crushed ginger snaps
-1.5 cups crushed FIBER ONE CEREAL (the original one, that looks like twigs)
-6 tablespoons LIGHT butter

Mix butter with crumbs and press into your 12-inch tart pan and bake for 10 minutes

THE FILLING
-1 can (15oz) pumpkin puree
-3/4 cup FAT FREE sweetened condensed milk
-2 egg yolks

Mix all three, pour into tart crust and bake for 30 minutes.

Looks gorgeous, tastes YUMMY and...only THREE pointsplus per serving!!!

That's how I roll.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WITH EXTRA CHEESE!
Nacho Mama

PODCAST Episode 54: Special Guest Heather Robertson of HALF SIZE ME!

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Today we welcome our very special guest, Heather Robinson of the wildly popular weightloss podcast HALF SIZE ME! Join us as we learn Heather's story and get her unique perspective on weightloss and body image, plus her tips for SURVIVING THANKSGIVING when you're trying to lose weight.

Nacho Mama's HALLOWEEN SURVIVAL GUIDE!

Goooood Evening....

Ready for tomorrow's CANDY APOCALYPSE? No?

Sometimes being a Weight Watcher on Halloween makes me feel like Charlie Brown. You know, EVERYBODY else seems to be able to enjoy all the sweets they can cram in their faces while you...get a rock.

I’m always being asked about my Halloween Survival Strategies, so I thought I’d share some (plus a few my members shared during the last week)so we can all be happy at the scale next week (and not just from a sugar high):

-DON’T BUY CANDY UNTIL HALLOWEEN. Trust me, this is America. You WILL be able to find affordable candy any day of the year, any hour of the day or night. I’m not sure, but it might be in the Constitution.

-ONLY BUY A LITTLE CANDY. Buy less than you think you’ll need. Then when the kiddies have cleaned you out, you’re out!

-BUY CANDY YOU DON’T LIKE. Are you a chocoholic? Buy sour candy. LOVE skittles? Buy candy corn (nobody likes that, or do they?)Can’t resist  ANYTHING sweet? Buy fun packs of PRETZELS.

- “BUT I LOOOOOVE TO SEE THE KIDS IN THEIR COSTUMES!” Guess what? There are TONS of adorable costumed kiddies ALL OVER YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. Fix yourself a travel mug of low-pointsplus cocoa and get some Activity Points by taking a WALK AT NIGHT on Halloween. You’ll see loads of happy children, and maybe even earn enough APs to enjoy a mini-candybar with a side of smug.

SPEAKING OF CANDY...Wondering just how many points are in those tricky treats? My friend (and Boston area WW leader) Dani posted an EXTENSIVE list of Halloween candies and their pp+ values. READ IT HERE: http://www.weightoffmyshoulders.com/2013/10/halloween-candy-cheat-sheet/

 

Wishing you HAPPY HALLOWEEN with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

It's PIE TIME we help our community! #Thanksgiving

If there's one food I love more than nachos? It's pie. I honestly can't think of a pie flavor I won't eat with gusto. By far the biggest threat to waistline come Thanksgiving isn't the turkey, the mashed potatoes or the stuffing-it's the pie.

But this year? I'm gonna eat all the pie I want without feeling guilty. In fact, I will feel AWESOME! Okay, maybe I won't actually eat all the pie I want, but I will definitely BUY all the pie I want (and maybe just taste a little of each one) because, once again, this year I AM SELLING PIES FOR MAMA'S KITCHEN! No, not "Nacho Mama's Kitchen"-Mama's Kitchen here in San Diego.

What's Mama's Kitchen?

Mama's Kitchen has been around since I was in high school, at the height of the AIDS scare in the late 80s. Back then the paranoia was so out of control that people thought you could catch HIV just by sitting next to someone on a train or using a public restroom. It was so bad that some patients with HIV were actually dying from malnutrition, not AIDS, because it was so hard for them to get help they needed.

Mama's Kitchen was started right in my own neighborhood to help bring nutritious meals to patients with HIV. Today they serve over 1300 patients (and children of patients) living with HIV and cancer. Many of the cancer patients are moms with breast cancer who have young kids. These women are too sick to cook for themselves, let alone their children, and the meals they get from Mama's Kitchen make all the difference. The staff and volunteers of Mama's Kitchen prepare and deliver 3 meals a day to their clients (remember there are over 1300 of them!) all over San Diego County.

Want to help? I knew you would! Here's the fun part:


I don't know about you, but I just can't get PIE off my mind!



Every fall, Mama's Kitchen holds it's "Pie in the Sky" campaign. The best bakeries in the county prepare delicious pies that you can order for your Thanksgiving table and pick up at your local Wells Fargo (San Diego County only).

Each pie costs $20-$25 and buys this much food:

Just ONE PIE can feed a sick person or their child for THREE DAYS

PLUS a hot meal for an HIV/Cancer patient or the child of a patient. That's enough food to feed that person for three days. From just ONE PIE, folks.

If you don't live in San Diego County, I hope this will inspire you to help end hunger in your community. If you DO live in SD County, I hope you'll order your pies from ME! You can order your pies from my Mama's Kitchen PIE page at:

https://www.mamaspies.org/mypage.cfm?ID=426

Isn't it wonderful to know your Thanksgiving pie can make a real difference someplace other than your thighs? Get yours today!

Wishing you love with extra cheese on your APPLE PIE!

Nacho Mama



Weighin' In (at goal) PLUS a local Weight Watchers Event

OK, this week was a challenge.

I'm sure they missed me, too! (image via wikipedia)

I ate out almost every day PLUS cocktails, cupcakes AND a visit to the pub-and that was before "All You Can Eat Candy Day" (Easter). Yes, I indulged in chocolates with almost as much abandon as I indulged in The Real Housewives (which I'd given up for Lent-oh, how I missed them!).

PODCAST Episode 43: Talking about the CHINESE NEW YEAR with Intuitive Astrologer Jackleen Holton-PLUS Richard Simmons Update!

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inShare1

Are your New Year's resolutions already getting a bit rusty? Not to worry! Because the REAL New Year isn't even here yet! Join Intuitive Astrologer Jackleen Holton and me as we discover what the Year of the Water Snake holds for you! PLUS an update on the release of Richard Simmons PROJECT HOPE DVD-it was an honor to participate!

Mamacita, Donde Esta the Mayan Apocolypse?

I know that I should be the sleeping...(image via Wikipedia)

So....yeah. We're all still here. But the picture in this video is totally how I imagine the Mayan Apocolypse would have looked if it had happened. So now that we can all relax, let's CHA-CHA with Augie Rios! 

Wishing you love (and Feliz Navidad) with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama

"Red, Fur-trimmed Coat Syndrome" Santa, STRESS & The Scale

Have you ever heard of "White Coat Syndrome"? That's when your blood pressure is unusually high because being in the doctor's office makes you nervous. My mom has this and always insists that the nurse take her BP at the end of her appointment, when she's slightly more relaxed.

Dude, you are totally tripping up my game!*

Listen folks, since Thanksgiving I have been "Miss Polly Perfect Super Weight Watchers Member of the World". I even lost weight after Thanksgiving! But every week since then, despite my being Practically Perfect in Every Way-the scale has crept up a little. The first time I shrugged it off, "I know I've been rockin' this program-the scale will catch up to me!" The second time I went back and scoured my food & activity journal-and wound up completely puzzled. Last Sunday when I weighed in at ANOTHER (0.8) gain? I was muy steamed, let me tell you.

PODCAST: Episode 37 RESOLUTIONS & Keeping Fit Through The Holidays

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Don't let this happen to your holiday health resolutions!
(btw-the man in the photo is my Grandpa)

We are deep into the holiday season. Before we know it, it'll be time to make those RESOLUTIONS, yikes!! Many folks make lots of ambitious vows to move into the gym to make up for all their out-of-control holiday eating and lack of exercise. But what if you made sure to fit in exercise NOW, throughout the holidays? How would that affect your resolutions? Join me LIVE during the broadcast as we discuss strategies to keep fit during the holidays. PLUS we'll talk about how to make healthy, achievable and realistic resolutions for 2013!

So did you survive Thanksgiving? #NHBPM

I did!

We actually had a really, really great Thanksgiving here in San Diego. It was a beautiful day, we had the family together-a good time was had by all.

Less snacking, more crafting!

I'm fortunate that I don't really have to deal with many "food pushers" this holiday season, but if you need some help you can check out the article I wrote for Mamiverse HERE. These tips have gotten me through some serious holiday scrapes!

THANK YOU Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Agin!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! If there's one thing I'd like to say to all of you, it's...

And for my top tips on saying "NO!" to Food Pushers, check out my latest post for Mamiverse, HERE.

Wishing you all a HAPPY THANKSGIVING with extra cheese!
Nacho Mama