healthy living – Our Military Life Blog https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com Serve*Save*Enjoy Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:41:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.5 Healthy Snacking Over the Holidays https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/healthy-snacking-over-the-holidays/ https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/healthy-snacking-over-the-holidays/#respond Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:13:00 +0000 http://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/?p=3465 With the Holiday’s coming up it is so easy to indulge in all the yummy and delicious sweet and savory treats offered! I mean c’mon, the holidays are known for delectable, delicious items that seem like a great idea to indulge in at the time, BUT come January, you will more then likely regret eating that entire tray of Christmas cookies, that pan of yams, and way too many servings of mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. There are some healthy ways however to snack on yummy treats without adding all the extra holiday weight.

Here are some tips for Healthy Snacking:

  1. Eat before you go to a party. Holiday parties seem like they happen every weekend right? Well, try eating a full breakfast, lunch, or dinner (depending on the time of the party) before going out. This fullness will help when you are presented with a table full of sweet treats and snacks.
  2. Snack with veggies and fruits. Instead of loading up your plate with sweets, chips and dips, and other high calorie snacks, try and stick to the veggies, greens, and heck even throw in a little ranch! Also, most fruit trays have delicious strawberries, melon, and apples (with a little peanut butter, of course). Sounds boring, I know, but your waistline will thank you later!
  3. Choose what you will indulge in. Now I’m not saying don’t eat any cookies or treats at all during the holidays, I know that is impossible for me! So instead, choose wisely on what you will indulge in. Personally, I would choose to eat something that is unique to season and not something I can have any other time of the year. When you know you are going to indulge a little, perhaps make cuts elsewhere little on your morning snack or that extra cup of coffee.
  4. Focus on socializing. I mean, that is what holiday parties are for right? You get together, talk, laugh, relive old memories, and create new ones all at the same time. Guess what? All that is calorie free!! Woohooo! Make sure you focus on the social aspects of the party or the holidays in general, because this will eliminate your want to stand by the chip bowl and just eat, eat, and eat some more. I have totally done this…regrets I say, regrets!
  5. Exercise. Sounds like a no-brainer, but during the holidays, we get so busy and so exercise isn’t always priority number one. However, all the running around, cleaning, errands, and things of that nature are actually doing you some good! Besides that, taking 10 to 15 min, 2-3x a day to get your heart rate up is also a great way to burn extra calories. Try: squats, lunges, dips, planks, jumping jacks, and sit ups. Mixing together a couple of sets of 10 of each of these exercises (2-3x a day) only takes 10-15min, gets your blood flowing, and somewhat compensates for the yummy treats!

So enjoy this Holiday season in a healthy way!! I promise, you won’t regret it! 

Find Out More with My Military Savings and Health & Beauty!

]]> https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/healthy-snacking-over-the-holidays/feed/ 0 Power Through with Jam Filled Energy Balls https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/power-through-with-jam-filled-energy-balls/ Thu, 02 Jun 2022 14:34:38 +0000 https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/?p=36622

Our house is a busy one! Being a teacher, my days can be very long. Between that, karate for the kids, and all the extra curricular activities, by the time I get home I am exhausted! But, help came in the form of an energy ball. I found this recipe from Pepsi, and it is a definite keeper! These little energy balls contain Starbucks Double Shot, protein, seeds, nut butter, and honey for sweetness. I made it my own by adding a little extra protein powder (this is especially great after a morning workout) and a seed blend containing chia, hemp, and flaxseeds. I also subbed cherry jam for strawberry, since it is what me and my husband preferred. Altogether, these bite-size balls of energy are so delicious and a nice pick me up from the everyday grind!

What You Need

Instructions

  1. Mix Quaker Oats, chia seeds and cinnamon. Add peanut butter, honey and Starbucks Doubleshot Coffee & Protein Vanilla; mix until everything holds together.
  2. Form 2 tablespoons of mixture into ball. Create indent with finger and fill with 1 tsp jam; reroll into ball to enclose jam. Repeat to make 16 balls.
  3. Place on waxed paper–lined baking sheet; refrigerate for about 2 hours or until firm.

 

Here is the link to the full recipe: Oatmeal Muffin Energy Balls

These were so simple to make! A bit messy, but totally worth it. Pro tip- lightly dampen your fingers before rolling the balls, you can repeat this every 3-4 balls so they don’t get too sticky. Pair these with a nice bottle of Aquafina water and you are good to go!

And right now, look for this Aquafina coupon at your local commissary! For more deals, coupons, and recipes visit www.mymilitarysavings.com

 

 

 

 

]]> Give Your Body A Boost Today With Centrum https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/give-your-body-a-boost-today-with-centrum/ Tue, 01 Sep 2020 11:00:29 +0000 https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/?p=35016 Gone are the days where we can pop a couple of dinosaur or cartoon character grape-flavored vitamins. As we age, our bodies need more nutrients than those fun shaped tablets can provide. Fortunately, there are vitamins and multivitamins available that can give our bodies the boost they need.

During quarantine, many have started paying more attention to self-care, and ensuring that they are giving their bodies the required amount of calories, water, and rest. While these are great starts, there are some things that we cannot get from our food. Adding a multivitamin from Centrum can help to boost your immune system and body, and keep you feeling your best! From young adults to our wiser adults – Centrum has a vitamin that can give your body that little boost! 

 

We all have our preferred methods of taking pills. Some do not mind the hard-shell, while others prefer the gummy form. Centrum has you covered, no matter what your preference! With their hot deals for the month of September, you can stock up on your favorites! 

  • Centrum Silver Women’s & Men’s 100 ct = $9.08
  • Centrum Women’s & Men’s 120 ct = $9.08
  • Centrum Gummies 70 ct = $5.37

 

Don’t let these sweet savings pass you by! Be sure to stock up on your next visit to the Commissary! Visit the GSK page for more great deals, tips, and recipes! 

]]> Stop Muscle Pain Quick With Icy Hot https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/stop-muscle-pain-quick-with-icy-hot/ Mon, 27 Aug 2018 16:20:13 +0000 https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/?p=28562 Summer is coming to an end, and so my workout has really been ramping up. I have my 3rd Half Marathon coming up in December, so my running workouts have been getting longer. Luckily, I have ICY HOT on standby at all times in my house. After all my long runs, ICY HOT came in and worked miracles! The pain I had between my shoulder blades, in my calves, and even on my shins was dulled almost instantly with ICY HOT. Recently, I bought the ICY HOT patch for the pain between my shoulder blades. It is so simple to apply, and it starts working instantly. It dulls my pain and allows me to carry on with the everyday chores of life. I even used it on my son with growing pains! Yes, he has the middle of the night growing pains every so often, and ICY HOT is all we ever use for him. He even asks for it by name now because he knows it is what helps.

Not only does ICY HOT dull pain fast, but it also is not greasy, and in all honestly it doesn’t take a whole lot. A little goes a long way with ICY HOT! They have a variety of products including creams, patches, smart relief technology, and even lidocaine products. No matter your pain, ICY HOT has a product that will fit your needs.

Check out these quick facts for ICY HOT:

  • Pain-relieving Cream
  • Start feeling it working on contact to bring fast relief
  • Non-greasy

Temporarily relieves minor pain associated with:

  • Arthritis
  • Simple Backache
  • Muscle strains
  • Sprains
  • Bruises
  • Cramps

And right now you can get this coupon at Chattem at https://www.mymilitarysavings.com/brands for $1.00 off ANY ICY HOT product and use it at your local commissary or exchange! And of course for more savings, coupons, recipes, and more visit www.mymilitarysavings.com!

]]> Run Through the Pain with Icy Hot https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/run-through-the-pain-with-icy-hot/ Tue, 24 Jul 2018 05:34:25 +0000 https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/?p=27770 I will be running my 3rd half-marathon in December. I know it seems like so far away, but I didn’t train the well for my last one so my time wasn’t that great. However, this time around I have been training and running so much more which is really helping my endurance and time (per mile). The downside is all the running really takes a toll on my legs. Luckily, I have ICY HOT on standby at all times in my house. After all my long runs, ICY HOT came in and worked miracles! The pain I had between my shoulder blades, in my calves, and even on my shins was dulled almost instantly with ICY HOT. Recently, I bought the ICY HOT patch for the pain between my shoulder blades. It is so simple to apply and it starts working instantly. It dulls my pain and allows me to carry on with the everyday chores of life. I even used it on my son with growing pains! Yes, he has middle of the night growing pains every so often and ICY HOT is all we ever use for him. He even ask for it by name now because he knows it is what helps.

Not only does ICY HOT dull pain fast, it is not greasy and in all honesty it doesn’t take a whole lot. A little goes a long way with ICY HOT! They have a variety of products including creams, patches, smart relief technology, and even lidocaine products. No matter your pain, ICY HOT has a product that will fit your needs.

Check out these quick facts for ICY HOT:

  • Pain-relieving Cream
  • Start feeling it working on contact to bring fast relief
  • Non-greasy

Temporarily relieves minor pain associated with:

  • Arthritis
  • Simple Backache
  • Muscle strains
  • Sprains
  • Bruises
  • Cramps

And right now you can get this coupon at Chattem at https://www.mymilitarysavings.com/brands for $1.00 off ANY ICY HOT product and use it at your local commissary or exchange! And of course for more savings, coupons, recipes, and more visit www.mymilitarysavings.com!

]]> Working Out Indoors https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/working-out-indoors/ https://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/working-out-indoors/#respond Tue, 01 Dec 2015 22:58:52 +0000 http://blog.mymilitarysavings.com/?p=4024

Living in Boston can have its challenges, especially with the weather! I have a gym membership but there are some days that making it out to the gym just isn’t possible. Besides the weather, I also have a toddler. So stuffy noses, groggy mornings, or just those days that he doesn’t want to turn Paw Patrol off, can also keep me in the house for a morning (or afternoon workout). I am almost 18 weeks pregnant and I still workout the same as I did before I got pregnant. Now, there are some adjustments I make: I lift lighter weight with more reps, I also still run just at a slower pace. Now besides running, which I know not everyone is a fan of, there are lots of other cardio exercises you can do such as: indoor cycling, indoor rowing, elliptical, and walking.

Here are some great indoor exercises that you can do without a gym:

  1. Dumbbell weights/kettle bell– I bought a pair of 5lb and 10lb weights from TJ Maxx for less then $20. This enables me to do many of the exercises that I would have done at the gym. The kettle bell (15lb) I also bought for about $9 and I am now able to do kettle bell swings which is a great cardio exercise that works your shoulders and leg muscles as well.
  2. Jump Rope– Have a open hallway in your home? Then jump roping is possible! This is great for a cardio exercise. Do in 1 min increments and mix it up with other cardio exercises on this list.
  3. Bodyweight Exercises– push ups, squats, lunges, side leg raises, planks, tricep dips, and donkey kicks.
  4. Abs– sit ups, flutter kicks, bicycle crunches, leg raises.
  5. Cardio– besides the jump rope you can include high knees, climbers, jumping jacks, and running in place.

So you can mix up a lot of these exercises and create your own workout play list. Pick 2-3 bodyweight exercises, 2 abs, and 2 cardio exercises. You can do them for reps or time. For example:

Jump Rope 1min

Squats 30 sec

Lunges 30 sec (both legs, so 1 min total)

Sit ups 30 sec

Leg Raises 30 sec

High Knees 30 sec

Jumping Jacks 1 min

Repeat for 3 rounds, with 1 min rest in between rounds- That’s a quick 15 min workout that you can do in your home! You can also add weights (if you have them) and extend the workout a little longer. There are so many bodyweight and cardio exercises that you can do in your home! So mix up, get moving, and stay healthy during these upcoming winter months!

**Please note that I am not a personal trainer and any exercises you have concerns about should be discussed with your doctor. Workout to your comfort level. Being pregnant, I do wear a fitbit in order to keep track of my heart rate.**

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