The Elf diet is no laughing matter

The Elf diet 

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Time for another accountability post, this will be the last of 2016. I had set big goals at the start of the year and unfortunately I did not keep up with those. My time at the gym dwindled after the first few months of 2016 as did my healthier eating habits.

My running is still going strong. The streak stands at 216 as of this posting. Last month I blogged about my new protein powder. It's a plant-based product called Vega. I mix it with spinach, milk and blueberries and it makes a great meal replacement.

Thanksgiving grub

Thanksgiving weekend didn't go well either. I ate enough to feed a small village in a third world country. But by the Monday after the holiday I was back on track and at least not eating as much junk. Now that it is December my concern this month is elf diet: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup. I'm not so worried about most of those because I'm not a fan of candy canes, candy corns or syrup. But Christmas cookies are one of my favorites this time of year.

We're weeks away from 2017. I'll be back in the gym and get on track. Better food choices are on the menu in the new year too. Merry Christmas and thanks for reading.

Trying not to gobble extra calories

Thanksgiving dinner a few years ago

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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October has come and gone and I survived the Halloween season for the most part. I did break into a hidden stash of candy prior to Halloween night, but shared it with the rest of the family, limiting myself to less than I normally binge on. I have only had a couple of fun size pieces from the collection my daughter picked up Monday night.

Now that the candy is behind me (for the most part) I'm refocusing on a few fitness and nutrition goals for the rest of the year. I have recently switched from whey protein powder to a plant-based one. I'm enjoying Vega's protein and greens chocolate flavor powder. I mix it with spinach, banana, blueberries and skim milk. 

Protein & greens

Honestly, I don't know what to look for in a protein powder. Compared to my previous go-to, Body Fortress, Vega has fewer calories, fat and sugar. But it also has less protein and more sodium. I've read that plant-based protein is better and Vega has 20 g of it along with two servings of greens including alfalfa, spinach, broccoli and kale. 

The other factor this month is Thanksgiving. Luckily it's only a day or two (with leftovers). I'll be looking for healthier options to add to the table this year, but at the same time not completely giving up on my favorites (White Castle stuffing is amazing). 

Daily running is still a thing, but so is weekly craft beer. My sleep has not improved and I haven't seen the inside of a gym in months. I'm not waiting for the new year to restart the working out. Here's to getting a jump on 2017.

Boo Blog: Teal is the new orange

Teal pumpkins=non-food treats for Halloween

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Halloween is the second biggest holiday of the year in terms of retail sales. Americans will spend an estimated $6 billion in costumes, decorations and candy. Let's face it, that's what makes the holiday so great. You can be someone else for the night and indulge on sweet treats without feeling guilty about it. 

But not all kids take advantage of this evening of treats. Those impacted by food allergies often have to skip the trick-or-treating because of getting the wrong thing in their bag could cost them their life. It's not just peanuts that can cause problems this time of year. More cases of allergies to red dyes are coming up as well. 

Teal Pumpkin Project

That's why the Teal Pumpkin Project was created. It's a way to let trick-or-treaters know your house is a safe one to stop by in search of goodies. There are a few simple ways to support the project. 

1. Hand out non-food treats. Things like pencils, temporary tattoos, stickers and glow sticks are popular alternatives to candy.
2. Display a teal pumpkin on the doorstep to let families know you're participating in the project.
3. Display a printable sign in your window to reinforce the fact that you have non-food items for kids.

You can learn more about the project and how to participate here. It's something to think about and a great way to make sure all kids are included in the festivities this year. I like the idea because we have friends (both kids and adults) who are allergic to peanuts and red dye. Now parents can have peace of mind knowing the people in their community care enough to make sure their kids stay safe this Halloween.

Kit Kats from Japan

Kit Kat bars from Japan

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents

My family recently had a chance to treat our sweet teeth with some candy from Japan.  My wife's friend visited her native country over Christmas and brought back five different kinds of Kit Kat candy bars for us to try.

Kit Kat bars there come in many different flavors.  Apparently it's a regional thing there, and there are dozens of different kinds.  We sampled wasabi, green tea, rum raisin, strawberry, and strawberry cheesecake.  Believe it or not, the green tea was my favorite.  I thought the sweeter flavors might have been better.

My kids like the strawberry and my wife preferred the rum raisin.  Click this video to see our reactions.