ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gif ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The Quintanas, That's All Folks! But the End Is Really the Beginninghttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/25/the-quintanas-thats-all-folks-but-the-end-is-really-the-begin/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/25/the-quintanas-thats-all-folks-but-the-end-is-really-the-begin/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/25/the-quintanas-thats-all-folks-but-the-end-is-really-the-begin/#commentsFiled under:

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Typically, saying goodbye can be depressing, but with all the endorphins flowing through this house, all we can do is feel the good.

Here in our very last week of the Healthy Families Challenge, we find we've accumulated a whole lot of high-powered life lessons that we can appy to anything.

Lesson #1: We have only ourselves to answer to.

David, now nearly 60 pounds lighter, and I, down 10 pounds myself, have already picked days and planned workout routines to keep us on the ball. Not to mention that I will be continuing my Monday-night boot camp class with Michelle Christie at the Doral Vineyard, along with occasional yoga visits to Pranoga, to keep my focus and stress levels where they should be.

And thanks, America, for all your backup over the last eight months! Your holding us accountable every week really helped us stick to our guns. Now we're on our own.

Lesson #2: Change will keep us moving.

Christian, my youngest son, has already found a new rock-climbing class that caught his attention, but that will not stand in the way of his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes at American Top Team Doral, which he wholeheartedly plans on continuing.

He's learned that just because he is choosing to add other activities besides skateboarding, doesn't mean that his favorites will be left behind.

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That's a wrap! Credit: Nory Garcia

Lesson #3: Observe, listen and chow down.

As Aaron, my oldest son, prepares for the next running season, he's thankful for the discipline he learned in Jiu Jitsu at ATT Doral: He always gives his all, and never underestimates the competition, in a 5k or anywhere else.

Aaron has also learned from Su-Nui Escobar, our HFC nutritionist (who shares his love of long-distance running), that what you put into your body is the fuel that keeps it going. Aaron knows that, to prepare for a race, he should take care to put good stuff in his tank.

Lesson #4: Confidence gets you everywhere.

Chloe, my youngest child, has learned through her confidence-building exercises at the Little Gym of Doral, that faith in yourself can change your whole outlook. For Chloe, P.E. was always a tough subject in school, but this year she managed to pass with flying colors.

Her new, high-energy Hip Hop class, also taught by Michelle Christie at the Doral Vineyard, is like the kid-confidence power hour. Since she started dancing, Chloe is practically a different child -- miles from that shy and timid girl we once knew.

Lesson #5: Endorphins will make or break you.

Elizabeth, my oldest daughter, learned the hard way that when the body stops moving, it lacks the energy to keep cheery. After a mid-Challenge bummer brought on by a slowly healing broken thumb, she found herself down-and-out.

After worrying whether or not Beth would get her mojo back, we decided to consult with the experts as to why she was so sad. Yup, we went straight to the movie "Legally Blonde." It told us everything we needed to know -- that, as Elle Woods says, "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make people happy, and happy people just don't shoot their husbands. They just don't." With Beth's thumb healed up and her getting back into the flow of things (she's loving that Hip-Hop class, too!), her mojo is more than happy once again -- and we all feel a lot safer around her.

Lesson #6: A family that fights together also bonds together.

As I kept explaining throughout HFC, my kids could not be any more different. It was amazing to see the way they teamed up when they all found something they loved doing together. Their Jiu Jitsu classes at ATT Doral have bonded us all in a special way. Those of us who can continue attending -- and those of me who can't -- are so proud to be cheering them on in what is (and possibly might permanently be) my favorite sport.

Personally, I think if people were to take our little lessons and apply them to life, they would be surprised at the fun, yet impacting, difference each and every one could make.

Now, go out and practice what I preach, America. See what positive things the overflow of endorphins will bring to you and your family! We'll be right here, doing it too.

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 25 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 32: When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get to the Gymhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/18/the-quintanas-week-32-when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-get/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/18/the-quintanas-week-32-when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-get/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/18/the-quintanas-week-32-when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-get/#commentsFiled under:

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Not doing nothing. Credit: Elizabeth Roman

Has anyone else ever noticed that when you are just lying around doing nothing, well, you are just lying around doing nothing?

How accomplished does that make you feel? I know it doesn't do a lick for me! I have often thought, "If I could just get one full day of rest I will feel better."

I have gotten that full day of rest and all I did was rest. I then had nothing to show for it.

I was so proud when I saw that, David, my husband, was not going to take life's punches lying down.

I've shared this fact with you before: Prior to the Healthy Families Challenge, we were not exactly the most productive family when dealing with stressful situations. OK, I retract that statement. We were definitely productive ...at putting on extra pounds every time a stressful situation came up.

Throughout the HFC, America has watched us go through some of the toughest times in our lives, and thankfully, through the wonderful teaching of Su-Nui Escobar, our nutritionist, we have learned that food is fuel for our bodies. If we put the wrong foods in, especially in stressful times, our bodies will not perform the way they should. It's kind of like putting diesel into a gasoline-engine Camaro and trying to run a race with it. It's not going to go very far.

There was a window where I thought we should all throw in the towel. Too many things were happening, one after the other. Elizabeth, my oldest daughter, broke her thumb; my dad had suffered yet another heart attack; and, of course, in February, we lost David's mom.

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It felt like we were in the third round of a boxing match with barely a leg to stand on, and although I never said it, I was ready to give up. I was tired of seeing everyone around me hurting. I did not see how exercise and eating could matter right now.

So it was a huge surprise to me when David, right then, decided to start going to the gym six days a week, no excuses. He has lost over 60 pounds, all tolled, and his fear of all of that lost weight leaving him floppy encouraged him to get to work at toning up. He started a regimen of tightening exercises, alternating body parts and allowing himself to rest in between.

If he was sad, he hit the gym. If he was angry, he hit the gym. If he was happy, he hit the gym.

Guess what? The Gym hit back, and apparently, in all the right places.

There are these things coming out of his arms that I've never seen before. I think they're called muscles. I can also feel abs tightening under what we all used to refer to as "the belly."

David's example has done wonders for me, and I have attempted to follow suit. As I recently shared, David's new passion is to help other people achieve their health goals, and he's been taking me to the gym and pushing me to new levels in my workout three times a week. When I am on my last few minutes of the Elliptical machine in my neighborhood gym, and I think I cannot go another step, I apply the "David Principle." I just think about how angry I am that he made me get on that thing, and stay on it for so long. All of a sudden, I get a second wind.

Here we are, a few weeks away from ending the Challenge, and I have been working out five days a week. Me. The one who never exercised. Now, I crave the adrenaline produced by the movement, and by knowing I can accomplish something I never thought possible. That propels me to yoga at Pranoga twice a week, as well as to boot camp at Doral Vineyard once a week, and down to the gym with David the other three days.

We are feeling the burn and the burn feels good.

Though not quite as good as those new muscles on my husband.

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 18 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 31: Hip-Hop Happy!http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/11/the-quintanas-week-31-hip-hop-happy/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/11/the-quintanas-week-31-hip-hop-happy/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/11/the-quintanas-week-31-hip-hop-happy/#commentsFiled under:

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Footloose and fancy free! Credit: Michelle Quintana

There are certain things in life that you know your children have inherited directly from you. And there are those you know your genes had nothing to do with.

When it comes to dancing, my daughter Chloe, 10, is a strange mix of my husband David and me. She got my love of dancing, although I never had the coordination to put it into practice. And then she received David's coordination to make it look like actual dancing, rather than some sort of strange ritual.

When we began the Healthy Families Challenge, I knew about that coordination -- I was jealous of it! -- but I also knew that Chloe was lacking a major asset that her natural ability to move could not make up for. Chloe didn't have much confidence.

Her experience at the Little Gym of Doral has given her a lot of that in the last months. I've watched her grow and do things she did not think herself capable of. The team at the Little Gym encourages kids to try new things, whether they think they can do it or not. When Chloe started her gymnastics classes there, she had never considered attempting a cartwheel, and never dreamed she could do it. Chloe now flips and turns so much, she makes our heads spin! Most importantly, she does it all with a self-assured smile on her face.

The coaches at American Top Team Doral instilled discipline in Chloe. Under the incredible training of Leo Lerner, her main coach in the children's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class, Chloe learned to listen to instructions and follow them. There, she has learned a lesson that can help in every aspect of life. Without focus, the enemy will always catch you off guard and take you down.



Which leads me to the dancing genes. The gymnastics and mixed martial arts teachings combined and led Chloe to stomp her way into an incredible Kids' Hip-Hop class on Monday nights, led by Michelle Christie at The Doral Vineyard. Michelle has an incredible passion for keeping the body in the best condition possible, and finding creative ways to do so. When Chloe heard about the children's class beginning, it was all I heard about until they started.

The class is fantastic. Michelle starts out by warming up the kids so that they won't get hurt, and then teaches them high-energy choreography. I know Chloe's body is loving it! I thought it would be fun to sit down and look into her brain to see what it thinks. This is the result of my very candid interview with her about the Healthy Families Challenge and her latest endeavor.

Mom: What has been your favorite part of the HFC, and why?
Chloe: Su-Nui's (Su-Nui Escobar, our nutritionist) burgers, because she tricked me into eating a burger with vegetables -- and it was good.

Mom: What do you feel you have learned throughout the project?
Chloe: I have gotten healthier than I used to be.

Mom: What does healthy mean to you?
Chloe: Exercising and eating fruits and vegetables.

Mom: Do you think that learning how to eat healthy helps with all of the activities you're doing?
Chloe: Yes. The fruits and vegetables carry extra energy for when you want to dance.

Mom: What is your favorite activity at the moment?
Chloe: Hip-Hop class, because you get to dance, and dancing is my favorite sport.

Mom: How do you feel about getting your body moving and your heart pumping?
Chloe:It gives me more energy! [Mom is not sure if this is a positive result come bedtime.]

Mom: What does dancing make you feel like?
Chloe: Excited! I can do hip-hop dancing, or any kind of dancing, all day and night without getting tired.

Mom: Do you think you will keep dancing?
Chloe: YES!

Mom: When you grow up and have your own kids, what would you like to share with them from this experience?
Chloe: Eating more fruits and vegetables gets you healthier, and exercising is not as bad as you think it is.

I find it amazing how the simple logic of a kid can really put things into perspective, and even make you feel kind of dumb in the process.

Pick your child's brain about health. She or he may teach you a thing or two!

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 11 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 30: Christian and the Menhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/04/the-quintanas-week-30-christian-and-the-men/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/04/the-quintanas-week-30-christian-and-the-men/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/04/the-quintanas-week-30-christian-and-the-men/#commentsFiled under:

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Don't underestimate me. Credit: Aaron Roman

You know how, when you were a kid, you just wanted to do grown-up stuff? Christian, my youngest son, is no different.

You cannot imagine his excitement when, on his 14th birthday, Christian was invited to join the Adult No Gi Brazillian Jiu Jitsu class at American Top Team Doral.

I am unsure what I got more of a kick out of: The childlike look on his face that said, "Mommy, I get to play with the big boys!" or the fact that he had to tell them not to go easy on him.

When Christian began the Healthy Families Challenge, he had a one-track mind. He was not interested in many things that did not revolve around skateboarding. He wanted to dress in skate clothes, grow his hair and carry the newest skateboard. Even if he could not master the latest trick, he would look cool trying. He was all things skating.

Mixed Martial Arts has for a while been a spectator obsession for us as a family. We have many times purchased a big fight on Pay-Per-View, and had a bunch of people over to watch. The sport had caught Christian's eye as something that was fun to watch, but it was not something that had crossed his mind as an activity he would be good at.

Within a few weeks of Christian starting his training at ATT last fall, he was like a new person. He still skated every chance he got, but he learned he could be interested in other things, too.



Unfortunately, it was nothing any less dangerous: Skating can (and has) equaled stitches and broken bones, and Jiu Jitsu can equal muscle sprains and tears. But we were excited to see him focus on something other than skating.

Christian's birthday brought two brand new skateboards from friends and family members, but I think that one of his favorite gifts really was being invited to the adult class. He's been doing well from the beginning in the kids' class, when he was bumped up a full belt almost immediately, but he was too young for the adult class. Now he'll take the Kids' Gi class right before the Adult No Gi class. The adult class provides him a new opportunity to challenge himself -- but he wants to continue the uniformed classes, because they are the only ones where he can move up in belts, because the belt goes with the uniform. The color of your belt is what measures your level of expertise, and Christian is currently a yellow belt, and will take another test soon. His goal is to move up in belts and be able to go up against anyone, anytime.

I don't think there's anything unrealistic about that. He made it through the cardio portion of the adult class like a champ. The warm-up exercises were far more intense than those in the kids' class, and add to that the fact that there is only a five-minute break between the two one-hour classes. Everyone was pretty amazed at how well he handled it.

After warm up, the participants learn a new technique, then transition into grappling. Grappling consists of five-minute sessions where two people go toe-to-toe, putting into practice the techniques they've learned, until somebody taps out, a.k.a. gives in, or the bell rings and the coaches make a decision as to who will stay for the next round.

After two slightly more advanced students tapped out, Christian pecked the second gentleman on the shoulder, kicked in the intellect and politely explained that he was hurting the learning process by giving in. Christian is not quite five feet tall and weighs 84 pounds, and in this class he is going up against 20-somethings, all well over him in height, and well over 150 pounds. After realizing that they were going easy on him, he let his competitors know that he was there to learn, and asked them not to underestimate him.

Where did this land him? Not on the sidelines. Christian held his own! He tapped out a few times, but also made it through a few rounds among the men. I'm sure it has a lot to do with his strategic approach -- he studies his opponent, trying to anticipate the next move.

Not only is Christian a threat on the ramps with his skateboard, but if he keeps training, not even the big boys are going to keep him down.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 04 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 29: Bodies Move, Hearts Followhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/the-quintanas-week-29-bodies-move-hearts-follow/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/the-quintanas-week-29-bodies-move-hearts-follow/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/the-quintanas-week-29-bodies-move-hearts-follow/#commentsFiled under:

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Who knew that inflicting pain could be a career calling for my husband, David?

For the last week, I have been training at our subdivision's humble -- yet brutal -- gym. Standing beside me, pushing me to finish the exercises that will firm up my floppy parts, David's face lit up like a Christmas tree. Later that evening, he shared that his newfound ability to motivate somebody to do what they thought was impossible has really put a career opportunity on the horizon. He's considering a second life as a personal trainer.

Here I was, thinking he was impressed that I'd survived all that cardio.

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Woman vs. machine. Credit: David Quintana

David pushed me to do at least 45 minutes of heart-pumping exercise every day this week, while alternating toning movements among different body parts. He got me working my arms one day, abs and legs two days later, and finally, two days after that, my chest.

David is enjoying it so much, he's now looking into enrolling in a class in August that will certify him as a trainer. He says that once he reaches his weight goal, and can show people the awesome before and after pictures, he will start advertising for clients. He would love to one day own his own gym!

At the beginning of the Healthy Families Challenge, I mentioned that due to health concerns, I would be sticking to low-impact exercises. As I practiced yoga with guru Aditya Gir at Pranoga, I felt my body become stronger and healthier from the inside out.

Aditya's class is focused on the fact that physical well-being has to evolve from emotional and mental wellness. He has challenged my body to perform at new levels, and helped me with my balance and vertigo issues by leading me to perfect different yoga poses, such as the Warrior series. These poses really focus on the good balance that hides within every body.

Since I've found my balance, I am able to accomplish a lot more physically. Exercises that would have knocked me off of my feet before, like working the triceps bar at the gym, are no match for me. Cardio training that would have previously made me feel like my lungs and heart were going to explode are less painful, thanks to the breathing techniques I've learned in yoga.

Even the Elliptical machine and I have become rather friendly in the last week, and I no longer dislike it as I used to. Yes, I still dislike it -- but not as much.

It's not only the changes in me that amaze me, but the ones in those around me. We Quintanas started HFC as a fun project, with the extra perk that we could get in shape together as a family. We had no idea that it could possibly lead David not only to a much healthier lifestyle, but down a possible new career path.

We also had no idea that we would find passion for these things we were once so disgusted by. Yes, I am talking about the torture machines! The sweatmakers! (Also know as the treadmill, stationary bike and elliptical machine.)

I am going on two weeks of attempting to contain my excitement during workday afternoons, until I can head to the gym or whatever exercise class I am due for.

I used to think it was a crock that exercise produced energy, but guess what? It's true!

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 27 Apr 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 28: Breakfast for Brainpowerhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/20/the-quintanas-week-28-breakfast-for-brainpower/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/20/the-quintanas-week-28-breakfast-for-brainpower/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/20/the-quintanas-week-28-breakfast-for-brainpower/#commentsFiled under:

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Aaron, stomach full and ready to study. Credit: Michelle Quintana

Folks in Florida know: It's around this time of year, every year, that the prerecorded phone call from the local school board superintendent comes.

What's it about? Making sure our kids eat a healthy breakfast.

Why now? It's the dreaded FCAT season.

It's a shared sentiment that the FCAT exam (which stands for Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test), administered annually around this time to just about every child in grades 3 through 11 in Florida, is frustrating. It's a drain for students because, well, what kid wants to spend all day in lock-down taking a standardized test? It's a pain for parents because of the stress they watch their kids endure. You see, for most of a child's school years, this test will make or break them -- not passing it leads to them repeating the same grade the next year, as opposite as my kid's personalities are the added stress makes for an interesting week.

The argument to discontinue the exam gets thrown around every year. Some people say it isn't fair to judge a child by one test. Many parents have kids who perform excellently in school, yet panic on test day and don't do well. Personally, as the mother of four very different children who have diverse reactions to the test, I have my own thoughts on this exam. I do, however, like that, as an annual event, it goes hand-in-hand with parents and children alike focusing on breakfast.

Breakfast really does make you smarter.

And here in Miami-Dade County, we spend the week fielding various recorded phone messages reminding us that the morning meal is the most important one of the day. Like it or not, the local McDonalds even offers a free breakfast as an encouragement to students.

Throughout the Healthy Families Challenge, one of the things we've stressed in my household is that a healthy breakfast sets the tone for your day. The schools' reminder that a healthy breakfast gives kids energy to perform well backs up that idea.

Su-Nui Escobar, registered dietitian extraordinaire and our HFC nutritional advisor, taught us what makes a good breakfast. We should have a good carb (one slice of low-calorie wheat toast, (rather than the waffles we devoured every morning on our vacation), a small portion of fruit and a protein. Of course, protein-packed eggs cooked any way are a good choice, but for a change, a bowl of low-sugar, high-fiber cereal (Cheerios and Special K are good ones) with blueberries or strawberries, and unsweetened soy, almond, or low fat milk on top, makes a great alternative, and lets you cut calories and fat without cutting flavor.



Our County's school board knows that not every family has time for a balanced breakfast at home, and that's one good reason why breakfast is served to kids at all Miami-Dade County public schools, free of charge, year round. The initiative is part of the National School Breakfast Program, enacted to ensure that schoolchildren get a nutritious start every day.

My kids' schools are good about offering options from all four food groups, and attempting to make sure that children eat, or at least take, something from each. A typical school breakfast consists of scrambled eggs with toast, fruit and a small carton of low-fat milk. The program's administrators also teach portion control, by allowing only a specified amount of each item.

Now, any parent knows, there's nothing you can do about what your children eat in school. Even if you pack lunches, they can trade, sell or even -- God forbid -- throw the food out. But at least this free breakfast instills in them an idea of what is good for them and what is not.

My kids are so used to the routine established by free school breakfast that on weekends, they don't do anything until they've eaten something. They don't request the usual sugary Pop Tarts and cereal that a lot of kids do. They prefer eggs and bagels.

I know that some might ask what real good any of it does. But, just like when you find yourself reminiscing about something that a coach or teacher from your youth used to repeat, these hundreds of children who line up for their free breakfast may just remember that eggs are a better choice than donuts, and that breakfast is all around important -- a lesson I think most people learn way too late. I know a few of the other challengers had a tough time getting used to eating breakfast every morning, as did I.

I am grateful that my children are learning nutritional basics through this program. Even better, I'm happy for the extra half-hour of sleep I can sneak because I don't have to prepare four kids' breakfasts every morning!

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 20 Apr 2011 09:15:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 27: The 'Eyes' Have It!http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/13/the-quintanas-week-27-the-eyes-have-it/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/13/the-quintanas-week-27-the-eyes-have-it/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/13/the-quintanas-week-27-the-eyes-have-it/#commentsFiled under:

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Risin' up: My kids (left to right), Elizabeth, Chloe, Christian and Aaron. Credit: David Quintana

You know that song "The Eye of the Tiger," from the movie Rocky III? I think I finally know what it means!

It's knowing that the prize is not in the Gold or the Silver, or even in a minor victory, but in the fact that you have become a new person.

When we began the Healthy Families Challenge, we started in a way that we thought was strong. We were all gung ho about cleaning out the fridge and ridding it of our unhealthy habits. We knew this would be tough, but we had no idea of the road that would unfold before us to make it even more difficult.

As if trying to pursue a healthier lifestyle is not hard enough in this fast-food-for-a-fast-world planet, add to the mix bumps and bruises, family scares and losses that cannot be recovered and it makes for one of the hardest things we have accomplished together as a family.

The reason I think I can say accomplished, although HFC is not over, is because we have really come a long way from that fatty, sugary, big-cereal-bowl family that we once were.

Many criticize, while many support us. It's just a huge roller coaster of emotions. Some days I don't know if I am coming or going. What I do know is that I have seen growth and dedication in my hubby, David, and my four beautiful children, Aaron, Beth, Christian and Chloe.

I have seen David remind himself of what the future could hold, or lack, should he not create healthy habits now, such as eating right and exercising. Coming from a family history of diabetes and heart disease, he knows the importance of not waiting until it's too late. This program encouraged him to get on the stick, and now he is equipped with the tools he needed to get healthy.



I have seen Aaron, my oldest child and the healthiest one from the beginning, dedicate himself to pushing his family to new levels. Aaron has always been motivated to be a fit person. He trains for his school's cross country team every year, and has always cut out all of the unhealthy stuff when the season is in swing. The rest of us were never so disciplined before HFC, but Aaron has been there to motivate us, just when we think we can't go anymore.

I have watched Elizabeth, my older daughter, sacrifice the prize to get her daddy through one of the toughest competitions he has ever participated in. Elizabeth, having won in her age division in our city's 5k run a while back, learned this year what "the last will be first" means.

I have observed my younger son, Christian, show an interest in something that motivates him even more than skateboarding. I actually thought that this skating-obsessed kid would be our toughest challenge. But, finding himself at American Top Team Doral, being trained by some of the greatest mixed martial arts pros he has ever admired, has inspired him to pursue a possible future as a fighter himself.

I have witnessed Chloe, my youngest, run a mile -- and even smile through most of it. Chloe, who started out like her mommy, seeing exercise as a torturous punishment, now looks forward to at least walking the 5k with the rest of us as a family next year.

As for me, I now like to sweat. I love the feeling I get as I am walking out of my Monday-night Boot Camp exercise class with Michelle Christie at The Doral Vineyard. I feel like I'm on top of the world. I realize I am capable of so much more than I have ever given myself credit for.

For us, that is "The Eye of the Tiger." It's putting away the old foolish things of yesterday and looking towards a bright and healthy future. It's letting yourself become -- pushing yourself to become -- that new-and-improved person. And, man, it's pretty great.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.


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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 13 Apr 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 26: David and I Fall Off the Plateauhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/06/the-quintanas-week-26-david-and-i-fall-off-the-plateau/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/06/the-quintanas-week-26-david-and-i-fall-off-the-plateau/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/06/the-quintanas-week-26-david-and-i-fall-off-the-plateau/#commentsFiled under:

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Look, we can get our arms around each other! Credit: Elizabeth and Christian Roman

There is nothing more disheartening when you are trying to lose weight than hitting a big, flat plateau.

Since starting the Healthy Families Challenge last fall, David, my husband, and I had lost a combined 49 pounds and 10 inches off our waists. Then, we hit the flat spot. And then we gained a few pounds back on our glorious, food-filled Georgia vacation. Visiting the land of Southern Cookin' was wonderful for our stress levels, but not entirely good for our HFC goals.

Immediately, upon our return home, I did my usual menu, and we got back to the gym. Much to his sadness, David has only been going for workouts at a local gym two to three times a week lately, as his crazy work schedule -- not to mention a back that keeps threatening to go out -- has not permitted him to take his classes at American Top Team Doral.

I am still taking my yoga classes at Pranoga on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and I have now added a Women's Boot Camp class at the Doral Vineyard on Monday nights.

I am seeing a difference since the activity level picked up. I'm already down the two pounds I gained on vacation, and I'm feeling super excited to see the rest of the weight come off. The cardio is just what I needed.

David has lost the four pounds he picked up on our trip and his energy levels are high, even though he's had to miss his Jiu Jitsu training at ATT. At the gym, he runs, and when his back is really sore from work, he sits in the sauna and at least sweats for a little while. I'm proud of him for sticking to a routine of some sort despite his schedule and physical obstacles.

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Beth, my oldest daughter, broke her thumb a while back, and was really down about the fact that there was not much she could participate in. She went with me to the Monday night boot camp class and loved it. The class focuses on cardio and toning. The heart-pumping exercise really lifted Beth's spirits, since it was the first thing she's been able to do since the broken thumb. Our instructor, Michelle Christie, absolutely loved the energy that she brought to the class. A teenager's excitement to be there was contagious to the entire group.

Aaron, my oldest, is right back at Tuesday and Thursday Jiu Jitsu classes at ATT, alongside Chloe and Christian, my two youngest. Christian is training hard to be able to attend the regional NAGA (National American Grappling Association) competition. He was invited to the last one, but was not able to attend due to the loss of his "Abuelita."

Chloe is having a hard time attending The Little Gym of Doral because of a Saturday tutoring program her school is implementing, but hopes to get back soon.

Overall, we are so grateful for the way we are feeling.

It's obvious that being healthy by eating right and exercising makes a difference in the way we view ourselves, but it also aids in the way we function and respond to daily tasks. David and I have discussed the fact that we even find ourselves to be more productive at work.

We have not only changed the way we look, but also the way we think.

We have formed good habits that will last a lifetime. Eating is no longer something that we do just because it's necessary, but something that we do with a purpose and a plan. Exercise is not just a hindrance to our schedule, but something we look forward to.

Despite the plateau, we have kept on keeping on, and we are grateful for all we have learned and have yet to learn. So, if we have to hang around "the plain" again at some future point, it's okay. It's not about the size of our waists, but the health of our bodies.

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 06 Apr 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 25: The Buffet Comes After Us, and We WIN!http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/30/the-quintanas-week-25-the-buffet-comes-after-us-and-we-win/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/30/the-quintanas-week-25-the-buffet-comes-after-us-and-we-win/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/30/the-quintanas-week-25-the-buffet-comes-after-us-and-we-win/#commentsFiled under:

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Have you noticed that when you try to avoid something, it is constantly dangled in front of you like a carrot?

Last week, my family was able to enjoy our first full vacation in more than six years. Sure, we've had a few weekends away here and there, but not like this. We spent eight glorious days in beautiful Savannah, Georgia.

Beth, my oldest daughter, turns 15 in May, which is like a sweet 16 in our culture. Instead of the big party, she opted for a trip, so off to Savannah we went. Thanks to the Healthy Families Challenge, we left prepared to do battle against unhealthy vacation carrots. Although there were a few dangling vegetables (and much worse) along the way, we came out of it pretty unscathed.

David, my husband, drove with a gallon of water by his side to avoid the soda pitstops, and we brought bottled waters, and almonds and cereal bars as snacks, for everyone.

The next morning in Savannah, we woke up to what would be our daily continental breakfast. If this was a movie, you would now hear that dreadful music that lets you know someone might be in trouble ...

It's true, I did just recently write that I would stay away from buffets. Of course, this was an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, starting with coffee and juice, and ending in cereal. In the middle, there was french toast, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, danishes, and all kinds of bread items, including a waffle maker turning out crispy goodies. Actually, there were two waffle makers, one that made four baby waffles, and another that made a gargantuan waffle.

David and I found it safest to stay away from the monster waffles. We opted to share the baby waffles, and eat them with sugar-free syrup. That was pretty much what we ate every morning. David also indulged in biscuits with gravy, since they are his ultimate favorite and not commonly found in Miami, where we live. The older kids, Aaron, Beth and Christian, each had one ginormous waffle every morning. My youngest, Chloe, who likes cereal, would have a small bowl of Special K with 2% milk and two baby waffles with syrup.

quintana family vacation

What a Trip! Credit: Nory Garcia

Lunch the first day was easy. We stopped at a deli in Historic Savannah and had small sandwiches -- mine was egg salad on wheat, and David and the kids opted for turkey clubs. We didn't get chips or fries!

In Savannah, there really is no option downtown other than to park and walk. And walk we did. We were missing our classes back home, but we did not lack for exercise. We figured we managed to walk, at the very least, 10 miles over the entire vacation.

The next day, things got dangerous. Beth wanted to have a birthday lunch at The Lady & Sons. This restaurant belongs to southern chef Ms. Paula Deen. Once again, we were faced with a buffet, this time all down-home fixins. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and it goes on. I'm proud to say I chose the asparagus sandwich on rye, while everyone else bolted to the buffet. The famous southern fried chicken was the unanimous favorite. I was impressed with my vegetarian meal, as a lot of restaurants don't include us.

The rest of the trip was pretty safe, though with quite a few small snack-sized meals at fast-food places with healthier options, including Taco Bell's fresco menu (they call it a "Drive-Through Diet"), Subway's "Jared" Menu and Arby's turkey on wheat or lean roast-beef sandwiches.

Back at home, we discovered that David had gained four pounds and I had gained two. Not to worry. We're already back to the gym! I started boot camp at The Doral Vineyard and have attended yoga at Pranoga twice.

And I am already down a pound.

David and the kids are stoked about getting to American Top Team of Doral to start training with the new head coach, Thiago "The Warrior" Silva, a UFC light heavy-weight Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. And Chloe is back to her class at the Little Gym of Doral.

Buffets, you don't scare us a bit.

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 30 Mar 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 24: I Used to Wear That?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/23/the-quintanas-week-24-i-used-to-wear-that/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/23/the-quintanas-week-24-i-used-to-wear-that/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/23/the-quintanas-week-24-i-used-to-wear-that/#commentsFiled under:

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We've come a long way ... Credit: Nory Garcia

It is amazing what being overweight will do to your sense of style.

I've always loved clothes, but after I hit my early 20s -- and a certain size -- I wore only baggy blue jeans and t-shirts. Typically oversized t-shirts.

I shared previously that I'd lost weight over the years. But I'm not sure I actually mentioned how big I once was. There was a time in my life when I was 20 pounds shy of 200. Yes, about 180 pounds. For me, and my height of 5'2", that is considered obese.

You may know this: When you are that much overweight, you feel self-conscious. You do not see dressing as a way to express your personality, but rather as a way to hide your physicality.

Since beginning the Healthy Families Challenge, I've started to enjoy searching for that perfect outfit once again. Not necessarily because I have lost a ton of weight, but because I feel better about myself.

Even with the weight loss I managed on my own, which totaled about 60 pounds over the two years before I joined the HFC, I didn't have a particularly healthy body image. The problem was, I was never really in control. I always let my weight slowly creep back up.

These days, I have a pretty good grip. I have, since October and the project's start, lost all of the weight from my "chubby" days and, although I am at the moment stuck on a plateau, I'm holding steady and not gaining. The main thing the HFC has taught me is that it does not matter how I look on the outside, as long as I feel good on the inside.

The thing I have appreciated the most that we've gotten from our nutritionist, Su-Nui Escobar, was her suggestion to stop watching our waistlines and start watching what went into our bodies. She explained that, as we concentrated on what was good for us, we'd start to develop a healthier body image -- not because we would be getting skinnier, necessarily, but just because we would be taking better care of ourselves.

I still thought she was just talking about what size pants we wore. I was wrong. Before the HFC, there were times when, after I'd started to lose the weight on my own, I would actually feel guilty about eating anything that even remotely resembled "non-diet" food. Now, due to the education on nutrition and body image that I have received, I have a positive relationship with food. I know that if I do it the right way, I can eat whatever I want.

There is a certain level of emotion that builds up when you eat incorrectly. I think it has to do with that voice deep down inside, telling you, "You know better." It isn't a positive feeling.

But there is power in knowledge!

I am now aware that I can eat most anything I have a craving for, as long as I control my portions and understand that those foods are not helping my body to function. I've learned that keeping myself from the things I obsess about just causes sensations of desperation, mixed with feelings of anxiety and guilt when I do finally succumb to the craving. Indulging in a cookie or a few chips, in a controlled way, lets me enjoy them, but still rule.

Here, a few more tips I've learned from our nutritionist:

o. Don't deny yourself things you love. I'm not talking about a bag of Munchos. I mean your favorite dish that your mother makes. Have some.

o. Instead of a large, order a small. You take care of the craving, but you don't go overboard.

o. Eat slowly. Give your body time to receive the food -- and listen when it lets you know it's satisfied.

o. Focus on what you should eat instead of forcing yourself away from the things you shouldn't. If you fill up on things that your body needs, you'll have less room for the junk, anyway.

o. Educate yourself on what nutrients your body needs most, and what foods contain them. Try to get as much nutrition as you can through foods, rather than supplements.

I came to the HFC excited about how I would soon look. Now I'm happy about what I can share. I figure, if I feel as good as I do, I have to let everyone know how I got here.

I feel great in my skin. And oh, yes, in my clothes too.

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 23 Mar 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 23: House of Pain, Hearts of Joyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/the-quintanas-week-23-house-of-pain-hearts-of-joy/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/the-quintanas-week-23-house-of-pain-hearts-of-joy/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/16/the-quintanas-week-23-house-of-pain-hearts-of-joy/#commentsFiled under:

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Credit: Christian Roman

There is no greater joy than the pride that comes with watching somebody you love do something they never thought they would be capable of.

We live in a small suburb of Miami, where people pride themselves on their family events. Their yearly Get Fit Family 5K Race is no exception. There were people of all shapes, ages and sizes running. None would ever hold as special a race as the three runners from my family.

My two oldest children, Aaron and Elizabeth, run in the race every year. Elizabeth even took first place for her division two years ago. This year, we had an extra special entry: My husband, David. He has been working out religiously since the beginning of the Healthy Families Challenge, pushing his body to new limits he never thought possible.

David started the race telling himself that as long as he completed the 3.1-mile run in 45 minutes, he would be satisfied. Little did he know how much unnecessary time he was giving himself! Until beginning HFC, David had not really run since high school. Even as a teen, sprints were his forte. I think he actually went into the 5k this weekend feeling skeptical. Had you told my husband a year ago that this year he'd do more than just stand on the sideline waiting for the kids to come in, his reaction would most likely have been a laugh and some dry, sarcastic remark.
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The last few weeks have been rough on David. The loss of his mom left a huge void and depleted him of positive energy. As a matter of fact, he was not even planning on attending the race, much less running in it. Since his mom passed away, David had even struggled with going to the gym, or what has become his second home, American Top Team Doral. That actually worried me, because he has rarely skipped a beat taking different classes at ATT.

Saturday morning, as I was preparing the kids to go to the race, I saw David crawl out of bed and start getting dressed to run. I was overwhelmed with excitement.

As we arrived, David and the kids begin stretching. He spotted a lady in the corner who was well advanced in age, and said, "My only goal is to beat her." Well, funny thing, that specific lady flew past David, but he did come in at 32 minutes and 36 seconds, beating his self-imposed goal by over 10 minutes. He was expecting to have to walk most of the five kilometers. David ran a good two thirds of the race, only walking about one third.

The pride I felt for him was beat only by the heart-in-throat moment I had when I saw that my daughter, Elizabeth -- who ran her last 5k in 23 minutes flat -- pacing herself on this day to stay near her dad. She shouted out occasional cheers of encouragement to him, in the hopes of giving him some extra push. I know that running this race was super exciting for her since she had been so bummed out over her thumb not healing, and this was the one thing she could still do. David later shared how much her support helped keep him going.

Then, there was Aaron. He finished the race in 21 minutes. As each of his family members were turning the bend behind him and sprinting towards the finish line, Aaron ran beside them in order to encourage them all the way to the end.

I was waiting at the finish line with my mom, Nory, and my two younger children, Christian and Chloe. The shouting was deafening as Aaron, Beth and David each crossed the finish line.

This event has encouraged all of us to push ourselves. David is now running two miles daily without stopping, with the intent to get to the full three miles nonstop. I have decided that, even if I have to walk it, I will participate in the 5K next March, and Chloe wants to travel the three miles with me. Christian wants to actually run next year with his siblings. Even my mom was encouraged to participate next year.

Amazing! All they think they did last weekend was run a race. In reality, they set an example that has encouraged many to change their lifestyle.

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 16 Mar 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 22: Lunch Dates and Loudnesshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/09/the-quintanas-week-22-nothing-like-a-lunch-date/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/09/the-quintanas-week-22-nothing-like-a-lunch-date/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/09/the-quintanas-week-22-nothing-like-a-lunch-date/#commentsFiled under:

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Best friends forever. Credit: David Quintana

Every day around noon, I have a hot date.

Well, as hot as it can get in our company lunchroom, over home-packed meals.

My hubby, David, and I hang with our buddies for lunch. I am David's buddy, and he is mine.

We pals have the blessing of working in the same company. My position is in operations, and his is in shipping. Every day, we meet up midday and share a meal and just hang.

People often ask us how it is that we do not tire of each other. Our answer is typically some version of, "We got married because we love to be together."

In addition to allowing us these daytime dates, we have discovered that working together has advantages when it comes to the Healthy Families Challenge.

One of the biggest plusses has to be the level of accountability that we feel to each other. You see, every morning, I go through pretty much the same routine. I wake up at around 5 a.m. and, once I am presentable, I come downstairs and prepare our food for the day. I make David a breakfast that typically consists of coffee, orange juice and a flat-bread egg sandwich. I then pack myself some cereal, with a banana and almond milk. For lunch, I usually pack leftovers for David and a veggie burger or meatless "chicken" patty on seven-grain flat-bread for myself.

The advantage to our whole lunch plan, other than the obvious economical leverage, is that we know exactly what we are eating (as well as who we will be eating it with). This enables us to plan ahead and eat what's healthy for us.

Let's face it, without that accountability factor, I am sure that we would have a tendency to hit the fast-food joints for all the wrong stuff. You know, the stuff that got us feeling like this in the first place: Double Quarter Pounders and large orders of fries with Diet Cokes. My hubby used to joke with a huge smile on his face that he has the Diet Coke in order to counteract all of the other calories.

We do occasionally leave the office for lunch, but these days, we grab healthier options. Instead of the old choices of McDonald's or BK, we occasionally head to Subway for a low-calorie sub, Jared style, or to Panera for a half sandwich and a small soup.

The other great thing is that we get to sit and talk, just David and me, without any interruptions. Sometimes we talk about our challenges -- which typically translates into me complaining about how unfair it is that he is losing weight so quickly, but how happy I am for him. Sometimes, we just sit together in our car and enjoy the silence, which is not something we hear much of at home.

You know how at the beginning of a movie, they flash that reminder to turn off your cell phone, with the motto "Silence Is Golden"? I typically have to fight off the urge to stand up and tell the whole movie theater how true that is. There is rarely a silent moment in my life. Four kids and a very lively husband does not add up to silence. Ever!

However loud my life may be, I enjoy the moments that we share as a family. Sometimes it is lunch with my hubby. On Saturdays, it is that first moment after Chloe, my youngest daughter, runs out of her session at the Little Gym of Doral and asks if I saw what she did. Cool times are when my youngest son Christian lands that skateboard trick after so many tries, and begs me to go outside so he can show me; the occasional Monday when Beth, my older daughter, shows me up at yoga, because she is young and super flexible; or when my oldest, Aaron, shaves a half-second off his running time and doesn't stop talking about it.

Those are my moments, and to me they are the things that make me healthiest. They give me that extra push to take that advanced yoga class, because I know it's good for me and I want to be around for a long time to enjoy many, many moments just like this.

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 09 Mar 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 21: Pain and Emptinesshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/02/the-quintanas-week-21-pain-and-emptiness/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/02/the-quintanas-week-21-pain-and-emptiness/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/02/the-quintanas-week-21-pain-and-emptiness/#commentsFiled under:

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Gladys looking out over the water in the Florida Keys. Credit: Dagmara Rodriguez

When you are hurting so much that you don't know where to turn, food becomes sort of a pain meter.

Some people will dull their pain with food, some will find eating to be a chore or even impossible to tolerate, and some will bounce back and forth between the two.

We've had some of each over the last week.

Friday, February 18, 2011, was one of the most painful days of our lives. We received a call from my sister-in-law, Dagmara Rodriguez, around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night. She told us that my mother-in-law, Gladys, had suffered a stroke. By early Friday morning, my husband, David, had lost his mother, and we all had to say goodbye to one of the most incredible women I have ever had the honor and privilege of knowing.

It is not often that families have a true matriarch. Webster's Dictionary defines a matriarch as a woman who rules or dominates a family, group or state: a mother who is head and ruler of her family and descendants. My mother-in-law went above and beyond that. She watched over her family and took care of them, often sacrificing her own needs and desires for those she loved. David remembers times, when he was a child, that he watched her pass on eating just so she could feed him and his sister. When she worked with my dad, Luis Garcia, she would often go out and buy snacks for my kids -- she knew we could only afford the necessities.

"Mima" left behind a large family and many friends. David and Dagmara are the only surviving children as their sister, Gladys, who was known as "Tati," passed away almost two years ago in Cuba. Tati had two boys, Dagmara has two boys, and David and I have four kids, giving Gladys a grand total of eight grandchildren. She was also survived by her own mother, Haydee Perez, and her sister, Elsa Miranda.


Although Gladys had some ongoing health issues, her passing was sudden and unexpected. We had just taken her to the buffet a couple of weeks ago. Gladys had recently been working on ridding herself of bad habits, trying to be sure that the diabetes and heart problems that run in her family would not consume her health. She had cut back on her sugar intake and chopped unhealthy fats and fried foods out of her diet. She had quit smoking more than a year ago.

The most important thing she did was beg my husband, David, to please take care of himself, in hopes that he would never have to go through some of the things she had been through.

This stroke was not Gladys' first. She had suffered a mild stroke a little over a year ago, and she had had several heart attacks, leading to the installation of a pacemaker. But Gladys was a strong and selfless woman. Her recent concerns were for David's health, due to their family history, which includes heart problems and diabetes on both his maternal and paternal sides. His mother's urgings and the fact that he knew he was at risk are among the things that have prompted him to work so hard in the Healthy Families Challenge and, overall, at making sure he reaches a point where he can lead a long and healthy life.

Everyone in our family has been affected differently by Gladys's passing. David, of course, is nursing a huge hole that has been left in his life. I have had to convince him to eat on many occasions, as his usually hearty appetite is almost nonexistent. The children miss their grandma very much, and eat only because I make them.

I am back and forth. Sometimes the pain in my heart is so much that chewing on food seems like a chore. Then, there are times when the loud growling sounds my stomach produces make me realize that I have not eaten; I manage to convince myself to eat a small anything, and then wait until my hunger once again overpowers the laziness my pain creates. Although I am a stress eater, matters of the heart seem to have an opposite effect on me.

Although we are equipped with all of the correct information about what we should be eating and when, thanks to our nutritionist, Su-Nui Escobar, we are unable to convince ourselves to follow the rules just yet. We are not eating every few hours. We are not watching the nutritional levels of our food. And we do not have the energy necessary to exercise.

I plan on going back to yoga at Pranoga on Saturday. The children have been back at American Top Team Doral since Tuesday. Chloe has not had the energy to go back to The Little Gym, but it seems as though the grappling at ATT is helping to alleviate her sadness somewhat.

David, I am not so sure about. For him, it might take just a little more time.

People say "Time heals all wounds," but this is a sore that will probably reopen on many occasions, as we miss "Abuelita's" (as the kid's called her) presence during family functions.

I will not write anything to make you feel as though you should follow the rules.

That would seem highly hypocritical, since we have not quite yet figured out how to do it.

I will, however, promise you that we will take it a day at a time, and do our best. And when we meet with our nutritionist next week, we will ask if there is some secret she can share for attempting to stay healthy during such a painful time. I will report back.

Until next time, take care of yourselves, so that you can take care of your family.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.


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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 02 Mar 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 20: Lack of Activity Equals Lack of Enthusiasmhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/23/the-quintanas-week-20-lack-of-activity-equals-lack-of-enthusia/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/23/the-quintanas-week-20-lack-of-activity-equals-lack-of-enthusia/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/23/the-quintanas-week-20-lack-of-activity-equals-lack-of-enthusia/#commentsFiled under:


Elizabeth, my oldest daughter, broke her thumb a few months ago. She hasn't been the same since.

Perhaps a quote from the pseudo-intellectual movie "Legally Blonde" would help clarify. During her first experience at trial, Reese Witherspoon's character, Elle Woods, loudly explains to the rest of the defense team, "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make people happy, and happy people just don't shoot their husbands. They just don't."

Beth happens to have been one of my more active children before we started the Healthy Families Challenge. She has participated in various sports throughout the years, never really pinpointing which was her favorite. A few months ago, Beth was helping with a children's class at the Little Gym of Doral, where my younger daughter, Chloe, takes gymnastics classes, when she fell backwards, hyperextending her thumb and breaking it on the growth plate.

We took her to the urgent care center near our house, where x-rays confirmed the fracture, and then a hand specialist for children, due to the concerns about the location of the break. If not properly cared for, doctors told me, the injury could cause her lifelong problems.

Here we are, four x-rays, one cast, one splint and several visits to the specialist later, and the thumb is still not mended. It seemed to have just began to heal at the last visit. Beth will now undergo physical therapy until the thumb is functioning well and healing at a normal rate.

Needless to say, Beth has had to quit training at American Top Team Doral.


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Oh, so sad... Credit: Michelle Quintana


What has this done to her personality? Well, she hasn't shot anybody, but being sidelined has upset her deeply. So deeply, she declared this week that if she could not train, she didn't think it was fair to be dragged to the gym. She spent the class we went to with the boys, lying on the floor. She would not speak to anyone, including Danillo Villeforte, our coach and friend.

He was taken aback, as Beth is normally the first one to walk in and start a conversation. Danillo was so worried, in fact, he told us that if we did not see improvement soon, he would speak to the physical therapist that had helped heal a fighting injury to his hand.

Beth tried attending a Monday-night yoga class with me at Pranoga. She loved the class itself, but quickly became frustrated when she couldn't do certain poses because of her thumb. Beth has worked out occasionally with a friend of hers after school, but very sporadically at best.

We pray that her thumb will heal quickly, because, "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make people happy ..." Right now, she is far from happy.

Mandatory update on me: I am happy, first and foremost to say I have not seen another buffet in recent days. And although my weight has not changed from last week, I hold steady at 142.5 pounds. I found a women's boot-camp class that I hope to be starting up soon.

Mama needs cardio! Have I said that before?

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 23 Feb 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 19: Back Away Slowlyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/16/the-quintanas-week-19-back-away-slowly/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/16/the-quintanas-week-19-back-away-slowly/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/16/the-quintanas-week-19-back-away-slowly/#commentsFiled under:

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Yes. And no. Credit: Michelle Quintana

Does anybody else remember being taught to "just say no!"?

No to drugs, no to strangers, no to ... fill in the blank.

Why were we never taught to say no to buffets?

Something that Su-Nui Escobar, our nutritionist, explained to us early on was that just because it was in front of us, we didn't have to eat it. She said we should eat until we were satisfied.

I'm not sure satisfaction was ever satisfactorily explained.

Quite frankly, I happen to find ethereal satisfaction from an unlimited supply of french fries.

As if that situation wasn't bad enough, there is that overwhelming sensation of guilt, when you go to an all-you-can-eat buffet, that convinces you that you must consume enough to justify the price of those unlimited options.

Or, in my case, unlimited french fries.

Such a wealth of edibles apparently not only has that effect on me, but on my children, too. Aaron, my oldest, did the best. He ate a taco salad, a steak and a small scoop of ice cream with gummy bears. Elizabeth, my second oldest, downed three steaks, a full plate of shrimp, pizza and two ice cream cones. Christian, my younger son, ate two steaks and a bowl of gummy bears, after claiming upon arrival that he was going to take it easy because his stomach hurt. Chloe, my youngest, well, let's just say that her feelings towards mashed potatoes and macaroni-and-cheese mirror my feelings for french fries.

David, my husband, will need time to forgive me for the bright idea of taking his mom to the buffet. David, up until today, had been angelic, only suffering in that he could not get to the gym as often as he liked -- which means working out three or four days a week, instead of five or six -- due to his awkward work schedule. He managed to down a steak, a plate packed with popcorn shrimp, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and a piece of sugar-free apple pie.

As for me, I ate mashed potatoes, french fries, nachos with cheese, taco-seasoned rice, corn, and an ice-cream sundae. Other than dessert, I had seconds of everything.

What can I learn from this? That I am an addict. Food -- especially the kind that shows up on giant restaurant buffets -- is my vice.

I came up with that all on my own, with no help from the experts, but I think they will see where I'm coming from. Apparently, I have an issue with turning down that which is appealing to my belly. Even when it's not really appealing!

That's right: The buffet was super expensive for the quality of the food. The fries were soggy, the steak was fatty and I could not find any fried okra anywhere! In other words, all that Healthy Families Challenge work sacrificed for lack of flavor and a huge dent in the budget.

And we behaved like beasts, anyway.

For those of you who think I'm making light of a serious situation, I don't agree. I truly do not know how to walk past food. If I had an issue with any other behavior, I would stay away from whatever encouraged that behavior. I cannot go to Starbucks during the Saturday morning sample hours, or to Costco when they do the demos! All I do is grab the food and stuff it in my mouth.

The first step to resolving a problem is to realize you have one. I, Michelle, do.

And the eating isn't my only problem: I have the hardest time getting to the gym, and I always claim that tomorrow is a new day. I excuse my erratic eating with my busy schedule. While I watch the other families speak of all of their accomplishments, and even as I watch my own family advance, I feel pangs of guilt.

This is my promise -- seriously -- as of today. I will hit that treadmill this week. Going to yoga twice a week is not enough. I will make sacrifices. And I will post my weight every week, beginning now. I am back to 142.5 pounds, and terrified of ever seeing the 50 pounds and nine (yes!) dress sizes bigger I once was about a year ago.

And I will most definitely stay away from the buffet.

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 16 Feb 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 18: More Than Expertshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/09/the-quintanas-week-18-more-than-experts/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/09/the-quintanas-week-18-more-than-experts/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/09/the-quintanas-week-18-more-than-experts/#commentsFiled under:

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Coach and more: David with Danillo Villefort at American Top Team. Credit: Michelle Quintana

When we began the Healthy Families Challenge, we figured the experts we'd work with would be, well, experts.

We had no idea that we'd end up with some of the coolest friends on the planet.

I was taught by my dad to know the difference between a friend and an acquaintance. An acquaintance is anybody that you know. A friend is that special someone who is willing to tell you, "Hey, get it together," even if they know it will upset you.

The folks on our team of experts are most definitely friends.

We actually feel like they've "got our backs."

Bill and Xiomara Goodman, the husband-and-wife team at the Little Gym of Doral, where Chloe, my youngest, attends Saturday gymnastics sessions, have made my daughter feel special, as if she could conquer anything. They also gave my oldest son, Aaron, a job, and have helped instill a great work ethic in him -- them and the fact that, let's face it, teenagers want expensive toys. They ask about each of my kids, by name, and regularly showing that they truly care.

Su-Nui Escobar, our nutritionist, has taken a personal interest in each of our personalities. We are all so very different that adapting to each of us individually can be a tough task. Not for her. She passed on a book to Aaron, explaining what a runner's diet should consist of, as they share the love of running. She has gone out of her way to find a vegetarian restaurant to take me to on our next session, because I complained that there were none close by. She learned how to interact with Chloe and Christian, my youngest son, in order to get the most effort out of them. She even reached out to my parents and invited them to join us for future sessions due to my dad's recent health concerns.

Aditya Gir, my yoga instructor at Pranoga Yoga, has given me an ear to vent to. He always asks how I am feeling and how my health is before or after class, which tends to send me on a tirade about how crazy my week was. I'm not sure he is even aware of it, but he's made me more conscious of smiling. I am not an unhappy person, but there is always something going on in the back of my mind -- and he told me that I frown a lot. His statement made me aware of my expressions and the impression they might leave on people regarding my personal life. He has also taught me breathing exercises that I can do at my desk at work to deal with stress, and poses that will deal with indigestion.

Last, but certainly not least, American Top Team Doral and our team there has become our family and home away from home. When we have spare time, we head to ATT. When there is a good fight to watch, we head to ATT. When we want to feel good about ourselves, we head to ATT. We're always greeted with the same caring smiles. No matter who is teaching or working the front desk, they make us feel like the superstars they actually are. Coach Danillo Villefort has taken a personal interest not only in developing my hubby David's health, but also in advancing his graphic/web design skills. Leo Lerner and Sean Sorriano have taken Christian under their wing with the intention of developing him into the fighter they see in him.

Not only will we walk away from this experience with a whole new outlook on how we should treat our bodies, but with new friends who've let us know in different ways that our real challenge will not end this summer. It will just be beginning.

Of course, they are all experts, the best at what they do. Driving us to run that extra lap, do that extra crunch and stretch a little further. In Danillo's words, "Don't quit! Don't ever quit!"

A friend will tell you that. But when an expert shouts it in your ear, believe me, you listen.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.


How is the Quintana family doing? Check in on their progress!

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 09 Feb 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 17: Of Milk and Man (and the Rest of Us, Too)http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/02/the-quintanas-week-17-of-milk-and-man-and-the-rest-of-us-too/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/02/the-quintanas-week-17-of-milk-and-man-and-the-rest-of-us-too/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/02/the-quintanas-week-17-of-milk-and-man-and-the-rest-of-us-too/#commentsFiled under:

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Look, it's 1-percent!! Credit: Nory Garcia

We started out as a crazy family of six, part "vegan," part vegetarian and part carnivore.

David, my hubby, was working out at a gym on a daily basis and I was clinging to any excuse I could find not to work up a sweat. The older kids were getting in some activity as they ran, swam and skateboarded. Chloe, my youngest, was a little too much like Mommy -- the only running she did was away from physical strain.

I was cooking: rice-heavy, sugar-infused, vegetable-free meals to make everyone happy.

Three months into The Healthy Families Challenge, it's time to give you a recap of the ups and downs, as well as the scoop on where we are at. So, where are we?

Well, I am no longer a vegan, but a vegetarian. A strict vegan diet was impossible for me to keep up with, due to the fact that even the majority of packaged vegetarian products, like the Morningstar and Boca brands, have eggs or milk in them. My hat is off to those who can.

Nobody else in my home is a vegetarian these days. I even convinced David, who had given up animal products in support of me, to go back to eating meat. Unless it's your own personal conviction, it is just too hard to stick to. Su-Nui Escobar, our nutritionist, has helped me come up with ways to cook for us all and not have to make two meals. For example, when she made turkey burgers for my family, she swapped in a Spicy Black Bean Burger for me.

I adore my yoga classes at Pranoga with Aditya Gir, and have now added a Saturday session to my repertoire. I keep saying I'm going to hit the treadmill at my community gym, somewhere in between all the other activities, but, somehow, something always comes up. In all honesty, I have not gone once. Maybe that is why the pounds snuck up on me. I currently weigh 140 pounds -- five under my starting point, but not the eight I had originally lost.

David continues to be steadfast in the fight. He attends American Top Team Doral for a Muay Thai class on Mondays and Wednesdays, and started a cardio class on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Danillo Villefort. David holds steady at 228 pounds, a whopping 39 pounds under his starting weight of 267. His commitment and discipline inspire us all.

Ah, the children. Aaron, my oldest, takes Adult No Gui Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at ATT Doral on Tuesdays and Thursdays, prefaced by the children's Jiu Jitsu class with Chloe and Christian, my youngest boy. Chloe continues her Saturday sessions at The Little Gym and can now run a full two laps around the track at school, despite starting the school year discouraged in her P.E. class, unable to complete a lap without doubling over in pain. Beth, my oldest daughter, still has a broken thumb; she is sticking to running with her new buddy after school.

Everyone's eating habits have improved vastly.

Can I get the younger two to eat everything I put in front of them? Absolutely not. They do, however, try each food before making a judgment on what permanent role it will play in their lives. The fact that Chloe, who hates peppers, tried a tomato, onion and pepper mix the other day and swallowed it (even though she did not like it) put a huge smile of pride on my face.

As for the older ones, Beth and Aaron have always been great, adventurous eaters.

In some people's eyes, we may seem to be slightly slacking, but they would not be people who knew the Quintanas before. The fact that I take a class that requires movement, not once but twice a week, is a miracle in itself. The fact that I will start using the treadmill will be another one. I used to see those things as medieval torture machines; the very thought made me queasy. Now, thoughts of exercising invigorate me.

Oh! And the moment you've been waiting for. David now refers to the over-sized mixing bowl as his salad bowl instead of his cereal bowl, and fills his glass with 1% milk! This makes me want to hug him all day long, and gives me hope that I'll get to hang onto him a few extra years.

As far as I am concerned we are winners all the way.

Where to next month? Definitely, moving forward! And I mean moving.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.


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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 02 Feb 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 16: Wow, What a Meal!http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/26/the-quintanas-week-16-wow-what-a-meal/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/26/the-quintanas-week-16-wow-what-a-meal/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/26/the-quintanas-week-16-wow-what-a-meal/#commentsFiled under:

Unfortunately, I think most people mistake healthy for lack of flavor and texture.

If that will keep me from having to share the food I just experienced tonight, then yes, I'm telling you all, it is true.

I don't want to share. I want these awesome dishes all for me.

The Healthy Families Challenge introduced us to Su-Nui Escobar. She started out as our nutritionist, but now we consider her a real friend. Tonight, we added to her list of credentials: We just found out she's an incredible cook.

I don't know if all nutritionists are as awesome in the kitchen as she is, but wow!

Let me start out by giving you the menu. Turkey burgers on multigrain flatbread topped with pico de gallo (a traditional Mexican mix of tomatoes, onions, cilantro, green peppers and lime juice -- we left out the chiles because of the kids) and fresh-made guacamole, with a side of oven-fried French fries.

Su-Nui also brought an extra small dish for me to try -- Ginger-Honey Tofu Stir-Fry Rice Bowl -- because I had told her I was not a huge fan of tofu. The recipe turned me around. I loved every bite. Yes, even the tofu. Not only was it full of flavor, it was economical -- and, most importantly, easy to make.

Here's what prompted this very special meal: I was running out of things I could cook that were healthy. I told Su-Nui that I felt like I had hit a wall -- I was making the same set of meals every week. Even working with my menu-planning strategy, I felt hopeless. I felt as if I was incessantly repeating meals, and with each new round, they were losing their flavor even more.

This meeting with Su-Nui taught me that the mistake I was making. I was once again staying away from the foods I like most (burgers and fries, anyone?) instead of searching for ways to make them healthy. Su-Nui had shared with us on our first meeting how to eat correctly without suffering. Apparently, we needed a refresher course. I had been so focused on making sure we didn't exceed our calorie count, and that we skipped the stuff we were supposed to eat less of, that I took out all of the calories, carbs and, apparently, all the taste.

Dinner with our kitchen-wizard friend was, however, low calorie and full of flavor. Su-Nui prepared the turkey burgers with the pico de gallo inside, then grilled them to perfection and topped them with low-moisture, part-skim cheese. For me, as I am still eating vegetarian, she replaced the turkey with a Morningstar Spicy Black Bean Burger. Instead of mayonnaise, she spread a little guacamole on each flatbread bun, topped each cooked burger with additional pico de gallo, and set it on the plate with a side of crispy oven-baked fries.

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Some yum in the making. Credit: Nory Garcia

Instead of the usual 600-800 calories that a burger-and-fry meal can easily contribute to a day's intake, we consumed around 400 calories, and everyone in the family was satisfied.

As for the tofu, I confess -- even in my "vegan" phase, I had never tried it out of my fear of what it would feel and taste like. Neither had my mother, Nory Garcia, who I had invited to join us to get a couple of pointers for my dad.

We were both very skeptical.

My dad, who also came for dinner, had eaten tofu prepared in a similar way, and had really enjoyed it, so he was looking forward to the tasting. I embraced my fear and dug in it right away -- and loved it so much that I quietly told Su-Nui that it was incredible ... and told everyone else that it was horrible.

As I mentioned, I had hopes that they would stay away and leave it all for me.

Unfortunately, David, my husband, and my mom both LOVED it. Ugh, I had to share. The children did not taste it, all saying that was just a little too much of a stretch for them.

Sad for them, happy for me.

I am proud to report that Chloe tried a heaping serving of the wonderful, veggie-packed pico de gallo on a tortilla chip, to which she cringed her nose and made a face. But she tried it!

Important tip for the week: Don't focus on the can't haves. Find ways to incorporate the can haves into new, fun, creative, delicious foods.

I'm a believer. It works.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 26 Jan 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 15: Find Your Real Friendshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/19/the-quintanas-week-15-find-your-real-friends/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/19/the-quintanas-week-15-find-your-real-friends/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/19/the-quintanas-week-15-find-your-real-friends/#commentsFiled under:

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We see your sideways glances. Credit: David Quintana

When you attempt, with some difficulty, to change something in your life, you find out who your real friends are.

As people around us found out about our participation in the Healthy Families Challenge, we occasionally saw the raise of an eyebrow and heard more than one snicker. Yes, some folks actually laughed in our faces. They were not too harsh verbally -- David, my hubby, is a big, scary guy, after all -- but the smirks were easy to spot.

As you begin to share with people that you are just sick of feeling the way you do, or looking the way that you do, people's true sentiments about you quickly surface. There are those in the "I Am Rooting for You" Camp, and then there are those in the "Ha Ha, Snicker, Laugh" Camp.

I didn't realize how many among our friends and family would actually fall into the first camp. The support that we have received is incredible.

Fact is -- and they all knew this -- David and I are notorious for trying to lose weight and giving up when the going gets tough. So, of course, there were a few well-deserved utterances to the effect of, "Let's see how long this lasts." But, as time has passed, we have received a whole lot of backup, and sincere congratulations for what we've accomplished.

For New Year's Eve, a few weeks ago, we visited our old church, and our pastor proudly introduced us as "The Famous Quintanas" on the "AOL Reality Show." I smiled wider than my waist used to be. There are people who know us and are actually following us! The best part: Those old friends and acquaintances who had not seen us in a few years were blown away by how great we looked and obviously felt.

There were also a few of what my Healthy Families contender, Gary Drevitch, has called the playa hatas. They know who they are. No comment.

One of the things I realized is that both camps make you want to work harder to attain the goal. You do not want to disappoint those who so strongly believe in you and what you are doing. And you are dying to prove wrong the ones who are waiting for you to fall on your face.

That last night of 2010, glowing with the success of our old year's resolutions, was actually one of our driving points to jump back into the flow after the slightly lax weeks around the holidays. There is nothing like looking into a room of people that you know support you 100 percent (well, almost!) and are just waiting to sing your praises, not only to others but to you.

Out of that New Year's Eve celebration came something besides good vibes: my daughter Elizabeth's new workout partner, Timmy, a.k.a. Alien Glen. He decided that since her thumb is not healing as quickly as she would like it to, he would go to the gym with her everyday after school to work on her running time. There's nothing wrong with her legs, after all. He is holding her accountable.

In fact, we are all holding each other accountable, so for those few who are waiting to see us go back to the way we were, don't hold your breath. Because it's not going to happen.

We feel unbelievably good. It's not just the way we look -- although the eight inches and 40 pounds David has lost look pretty good off him -- but also the knowing that there are people we have encouraged, like my parents. They have learned the heart-healthy way to eat through the things we've shared from our sessions with our nutritionist, Su-Nui Escobar. Knowing that we have set an example for our children that they will hopefully pass to their children. We hope that they will continue to appreciate their bodies and take care of them by eating the right foods and staying active. These are the real accomplishments we see every day.

Although I am not actively losing weight -- I hit a plateau over the holidays -- the fact that I can run for about 20 minutes straight with passing out is another major accomplishment!

So, to those of you who thought the Quintanas couldn't hang, here we are, three months later, not as strong yet as we would like to be, but definitely not quitting.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.


How is the Quintana family doing? Check in on their progress!

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 19 Jan 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 14: Trial and Errorhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/12/the-quintanas-week-14-hfcw14/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/12/the-quintanas-week-14-hfcw14/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/12/the-quintanas-week-14-hfcw14/#commentsFiled under:

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Seeing the light ... Credit: Michelle Quintana

Note to self: The fact that you like watching a sport does not mean you'll enjoy participating in it.

Or, in my case: The fact that I enjoy watching a sport does not mean I possess the coordination to participate in it.

Upon beginning The Healthy Families Challenge, I was asked what sports got my family excited. The answer was, emphatically, Mixed Martial Arts. For us, watching a fight is a family event.

On his 13th birthday, Christian, my younger son, invited about 20 of his closest friends over, and we purchased the big fight of the month on Pay-Per-View. We ordered pizza and set up two televisions. It is amazing how still and quiet teenagers can be when you engage them in something they are passionate about.

I even own a shirt that says Eat, Breathe, and Sleep ... MMA. Yes, even my two daughters love it. This should give you an idea of how much we enjoy this sport.

We were hoping to take some classes, but never in a million years thought we would have the honor and blessing to be trained by the best of the best. American Top Team, a renowned MMA gym, has put out some of the greatest fighters in the sport; its coaches have trained "The Pitbull" Thiago Alves, Ricardo Liborio and Hector Lombard. Our family, as we have shared often, has been taking various classes at American Top Team Doral.

As I mentioned back in Week 1, I was originally sticking to low-impact exercise, due to some health concerns. But, after a few months of watching from the sidelines as my entire family lived what we consider "The Dream," I became a little envious. I decided I was not going to let a little weakness stand in my way. So, off to ATT for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu training I went.

The cardio and endurance exercises were tough, but I handled them. I cannot, however, say much for myself when it came to the art of grappling, the actual sport of Jui-jitsu, which consists of various wrestling-style holds and escapes. I was grappling with men, teenagers and the one other woman in our class. I wasn't much of a challenge for any of them.

By the end of the month, I was frustrated. I couldn't seem to master anything, and was experiencing vertigo from the fast moves. You have to escape very quickly from the different guards, or positions, in order to prevail before your opponent can counter with another lock.

It's almost like playing chess. You study your opponent so that your can decide on the most strategic position to place yourself in, depending on which direction you anticipate his or her body to move.

I just couldn't do all this and make a muscle, too.

So, with great sadness, and after two months of trying, I will no longer be attending classes.

I am still attending my great yoga classes at Pranoga, but I have to face facts: MMA is just not for me. I happen to like all my body parts exactly where they are at. I've decided to continue the endurance and cardio taught by my instructor, Danillo Villefort. With my husband, David's help, I'm keeping up with crunches and push ups, and have even added the treadmill. We have a small community gym, where I am able to work on the things that my body can handle.

The lesson in my story?

Challenge yourself, but in the end, stay with what you like, and what encourages you to continue. Back in Week 6, I was staying away from inversions in yoga. Inversions are the upside-down poses. My yoga instructor, Aditya Gir, has taught me that these positions promote a healthy flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. I am now unafraid and able to perform a shoulder stand, which is when you lie on your back and slowly bring your lower body over your head, with your shoulders set squarely on the floor. Unlike I did in my picture from two months ago, I actually perform this move with poise and grace. I have perfect form!

A helpful tip: Most fitness programs will offer a free introductory class that will let you see if it's a fit before you commit. And I can tell you first hand that you shouldn't force yourself into something that makes you feel weak and fearful and unable to endure. It won't turn out to be fun or healthy, no matter how great it looks on TV.

MMA is still my favorite sport. And I'm still on the bleachers, wearing my shirt, cheering on my whole family as they show me how it's done. But I don't miss those mats. At all.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.


How is the Quintana family doing? Check in on their progress!

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 12 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST