Thursday, February 28, 2013

Juice Drinks - The Worst Drinks for Your Body - Shape Magazine

This is a great eye opener on drinks that we might think are "healthy."  Remember, read labels and know your ingredients before you drink.

Juice Drinks - The Worst Drinks for Your Body - Shape Magazine

Until next time, keep reaching for that healthy, happy life you deserve.



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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Ten Tips To Eating Healthy On A Budget


Until next time, keep reaching for that healthy, happy life you deserve.


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Not eating your fruits and vegetables like you should? Get what you are missing with Greens, a delicious orange-flavored, alkalizing drink powder with the nutritional value of 8+ servings of fruits and vegetables in each serving.
Greens blends 38 herbs and nutrient-rich "superfoods" to provide vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and enzymes in their naturally-occurring, bio-active, bio-available form.
  • Detoxifying, alkalizing drink powder
  • Promotes pH balance within the body
  • 38 herbs & nutrient-rich “superfoods”
  • Equivalent of 8+ servings of fruits and vegetables in each serving
Greens is a pleasant tasting, orange-flavored powder. Simply add to water or juice.  Click Here for more information or to purchase.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. 

Any link or ads that take you to an outside party indicates that I likely have an affiliate relationship and benefit in some way either by reciprocal links or financially.  I make all product recommendations and affiliate ad choices based on what I feel will most benefit my readers, not how much my commission or benefit is from that affiliate.  


Reference:  ‎www.choosemyplate.gov/foodgroups/downloads/TenTips/DGTipsheet16EatingBetterOnABudget.pdf

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Discover How To Get Passed Your Workout Excuses

fitnessgurutraining.wordpress.com
I know, I know, you would never miss a workout if only.....

We all have our excuses for not working out, and granted, some of them are legit.  We are nursing an injury, working late or whatever, but many times we are simply talking ourselves out of it. By making an excuse it allows us to be less uncomfortable about not following through on our commitment to our goals.  It's our natural human nature to avoid cognitive dissonance.  It's not that your lazy, it's just our natural response.

So what's the secret to countering it?  Make a habit of working out.  This allows your brain to flip and cause you to create a "healthy obsession."  This makes you want to move!  Now I know that this is easier said than done, until then, here are some tips to overcome those excuses.

Excuse #1:  I'm too tired!

This is the number one reason we blow off our workouts, however, studies show that regular physical exercise actually increases our energy levels and improves our ability to function at a higher level.  Don't believe it?  Just try committing to one week of workouts and see if you don't notice a difference.  If you don't feel like you can follow through for even a week, enlist an exercise buddy to hold you accountable for a week which will make it harder to skip your workout session.  

Excuse #2:  I don't have time!

I'm sure you're busy, but trust me, the time is there.  If you work 50 hours a week and sleep 8 hours a night, that leaves 62 hours for other things.  According to the American Heart Association, you only need 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week to improve your health.  To find your unused time, keep a 24 hour log of your time for one day.  This will be a huge eye opener for you to be able to find the time for your workouts.

Excuse #3:  I don't want to have to shower again!

Post workout primping can be done very quickly by giving your sweaty spots a once over with an antibacterial wipe.  Do the same on your face, using an all-in-one cleansing pad.  Apply beauty balm, which is similar to a tinted moisturizer but it contains blemish control and primer.  Touch up your mascara and use a three in one shimmer to eyes, cheeks and lips.  To top off your primping, use a dry shampoo on the crown of your head to freshen up your hair.  Whalaa, you are done.  It's that simple.

Excuse #4:  Exercise makes me hungry!

Actually, hormones released during a vigorous workout actually work to suppress your appetite immediately post-workout.  A recent study by researchers at Brigham Young University showed that the neural response to food was less than it was on non-exercise days for women who workout.  Additionally, it found that women did not eat more on the workout day to make up for calories burned. The key is to eat 150 to 200 calorie snack immediately following your workout.  Make sure to have a good balance of proteins, carbs and healthy fats.  This will help you to stay full longer so you won't eat back all those calories burned.

The true reality is that by committing to an exercise program and pushing past your excuses, you will find yourself more energized, healthier and happier than you have ever been.  Go ahead, try it!  I dare you.  

Until next time, keep reaching for that healthy, happy life you deserve.



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  • Thermogenic weight loss formula
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  • Promotes increased calorie burning
  • Helps boost metabolic rate
  • Reduces appetite
  • Provides energy
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Any link or ads that take you to an outside party indicates that I likely have an affiliate relationship and benefit in some way either by reciprocal links or financially.  I make all product recommendations and affiliate ad choices based on what I feel will most benefit my readers, not how much my commission or benefit is from that affiliate.  

THIS ARTICLE IS MEANT FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.  IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT OR CURE ANY DISEASE.  PLEASE ASK YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE BEGINNING ANY SUPPLEMENTATION PROGRAM. ANY HEALTH PROGRAM SHOULD BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN AND INVOLVE HEALTHY EATING, EXERCISING AND GOOD SUPPLEMENTATION.

References: Summarized from Health Magazine, March 2013. p. 62-64

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Secrets To Making Meals Healthy And Quick



Just a few good tips to eat healthier on the go or when you are in a hurry....

On the run? Healthier fast food or drive-through choices

Skip the meal deals and size upgrades
Calories can really add up when you get the larger size sandwiches, fried foods, and soft drinks.


Check off what you will try to cut the calories when eating out:
❑  Get the regular or child-sized hamburger and load it with lettuce, tomato, and onions.

❑  Cut a larger burger or sandwich in half. Eat half now, and refrigerate half for tomorrow’s lunch.

❑  Get the small size turkey or grilled chicken sub instead of the large one. Load it with veggies—spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers,
and onions.


❑  Drink water, or low-fat or fat-free milk, instead of whole milk, fruit drinks, or a soft drink.



Hearty, healthy lunches in a snap

❑  Sandwich lover? Choose lean protein fillings, such as grilled chicken or tuna. Make nonmeat sandwiches with peanut butter, low-fat cheese, sliced hard-boiled eggs, or fat-free refried beans.

❑  Load your sandwich with veggies. Along with the standard greens a tomatoes . . . try sliced cucumbers, green peppers, or zucchini strips for added crunch.

❑  Pick whole grains! Try whole-grain or 100% whole-wheat breads, tortilla wraps, English muffins, and pita pockets instead of white brea or buns.

❑  Green salads, anyone? Add lean meats along with fruits, beans, and nuts to your green salads. Try dried cranberries, cut-up fruit,
kidney beans, walnuts, and almonds. 


Until next time keep reaching for that healthy, happy life you deserve.


Information based on
Any link or ads that take you to an outside party indicates that I likely have an affiliate relationship and benefit in some way either by reciprocal links or financially.  I make all product recommendations and affiliate ad choices based on what I feel will most benefit my readers, not how much my commission or benefit is from that affiliate.  

THIS ARTICLE IS MEANT FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.  IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT OR CURE ANY DISEASE.  PLEASE ASK YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE BEGINNING ANY SUPPLEMENTATION PROGRAM. ANY HEALTH PROGRAM SHOULD BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN AND INVOLVE HEALTHY EATING, EXERCISING AND GOOD SUPPLEMENTATION.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

What Are Empty Calories And How Do You Avoid Them?

When sifting through the countless diet, health and fitness articles on the internet and in the magazines everyday, you have undoubtedly come across the term "empty calories."  These are defined as calories that come from foods that offer little to no nutritional value for your body.  Things like sodas, candy and processed foods.  They generally consist of processed carbohydrates and fats.  Yuck!   Well at least that's what we should say, but we tend to gravitate towards these types of foods because of the taste.  The problem is that they contain large quantities of calories that tend to be sugar and nothing else.  Beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages also fall into the category of empty calories.  Another really bad thing about "empty calorie" foods and drinks are that they tend to leave you hungry very quickly after consumption.  In short, without moderation, these foods and drinks can quickly add up to large amounts of weight gain.

Eating foods with lots of "empty calories" cause you to experience blood sugar spikes that fall just as quickly which leads to the "crash" of fatigue.  These blood sugar swings can drive the need for an additional pick-me-up of, you guessed it, another "empty calorie" source.  It's a never ending cycle of ups and downs that becomes a very hard habit to break.

Our fast food, convenience world has created a society of people who want things fast and quick.  Unfortunately it has also lead us to become a society of overweight, unhealthy and disease infested humans.  As I have stated before, despite the education and information available on health and wellness, 90% of us will die of a preventable disease.  That sounds crazy, but it's true.  We have the information, we just don't use it.  Why?  Because we have been conditioned to follow convenience over health.   There are, however, things that we can do to develop better habits and make better choices to break the cycle of constant "empty calorie" consumption.

Know What You Are Eating...Read Labels.

We all know the general "yuck" foods like sodas and jelly beans, but even so-called "healthy" foods like protein bars and energy drinks can be full of large amounts of "empty calories."  Avoid foods that contain high-fructose syrup, monosodium glutamate (MSG), enriched bleached flours, sodium nitrates and nitrites and artificial colorings.  If a food has more than 10 ingredients, it's likely that it should be avoided.  


Avoid Deep Fried.

Instead of deep-frying, use other methods of cooking. For instance, have a baked potato with skin instead of fries, or a piece of baked skinless chicken breast instead of fried chicken.  Use olive oil in place of vegetable oil if you must have something fried, and remember to use oat flour in place of regular bleached flour as a good substitute for battering a food.  

Watch Out For Condiments.

Pancake syrup, Ketchup and other condiments can add a significant amount of sugar calories to your diet.  Be aware of what you are using to flavor your foods to avoid these extra calories.  1/4 cup of ketchup can contain as much as 60 extra calories and 4 tsps. of sugar.

Food Swap.

We all want something sweet every now and then.  Avoiding empty calories doesn't mean you have to give that up.  Instead of having that chocolate ice cream, replace it with some yogurt and mixed fruit or an all natural frozen fruit bar.  Not only will it quench your sweet tooth but it will provide you with some great nutritional energy for your body.  With a few creative swaps you can have your sweets and eat them too.

As always, take it slow and gradually introduce new items into your diet to replace old habits.  You may discover it's not only tasty, but your energy levels will increase too.  Until next time, keep reaching for that health, happy life you deserve!


For more information on health and wellness join my mailing list at http://www.easyfatburnnow.com


PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION:


Not eating your fruits and vegetables like you should? Get what you are missing with Greens, a delicious orange-flavored, alkalizing drink powder with the nutritional value of 8+ servings of fruits and vegetables in each serving.
Greens blends 38 herbs and nutrient-rich "superfoods" to provide vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and enzymes in their naturally-occurring, bio-active, bio-available form.
  • Detoxifying, alkalizing drink powder
  • Promotes pH balance within the body
  • 38 herbs & nutrient-rich “superfoods”
  • Equivalent of 8+ servings of fruits and vegetables in each serving
Greens is a pleasant tasting, orange-flavored powder. Simply add to water or juice.

Any link or ads that take you to an outside party indicates that I likely have an affiliate relationship and benefit in some way either by reciprocal links or financially.  I make all product recommendations and affiliate ad choices based on what I feel will most benefit my readers, not how much my commission or benefit is from that affiliate.  

THIS ARTICLE IS MEANT FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.  IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT OR CURE ANY DISEASE.  PLEASE ASK YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE BEGINNING ANY SUPPLEMENTATION PROGRAM. ANY HEALTH PROGRAM SHOULD BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN AND INVOLVE HEALTHY EATING, EXERCISING AND GOOD SUPPLEMENTATION.


Friday, February 1, 2013

3 Top Tips For Health

I know many of you will agree that what we call "health care" today is really little more than "disease care."  Let's face it; medications are just poisons with a desirable side effect, and sometimes additional undesirable side effects come along for the ride.  We've all seen the commercials that tell you about this great new drug that can cure your ailments for the first 10 seconds of the advertisement and then spend the remainder of the time quoting the disclaimer that explains how your arm may fall off or your liver may explode but "hey, you won't have heartburn anymore."  I can't help but laugh every time I see one.

The reality is that by the time we are at the doctor and getting a prescription for a problem then we are already sick.  What we should be doing is taking measures ahead of time to avoid getting sick to begin with.  I'm not talking about your average cold or bug you pick up at the office, but true chronic disease that could have been prevented with a few simple steps.  We need to change our mindset to "preventative care."  We must ask ourselves, "what can I do now that will help me avoid chronic disease later?"

Of course the answer to that question is vast, but for today, I'm going to just cover 3 simple steps that can help you improve your health, and maybe avoid some of the problems that our overmedicated, overweight society has created because of our unwillingness to take our health into our own hands.

Detoxify

Detoxification is a very popular subject among the natural health community these days, and there is a good reason for that.  We've talked in length on this subject in the last few blog posts, but not to reiterate some of what we learned from those posts would be a disservice to my readers.  Anything we can do to reduce the toxic load our bodies endure from the foods we eat, the water we drink and the skin care products we use is going to be greatly appreciated by your internal and external body systems.    And hey, many of those toxins are fat soluble, so by reducing the toxins in our fat cells it stands to reason that we can reduce the size of our fat cells in the process.  So one of the desired side effects to detoxification is reduced fat cell size and weight.  Pretty cool.

Alkalize

Your body is either acidic or alkaline, and if it's acidic then it is set up for just about every kind of disease.  Free radicals love acidic environments.  This means that all the chronic diseases and degenerative conditions that come along with aging will also thrive in an acidic environment.  This type of environment in our body is caused by junk foods, excess sugar, fried foods and even stress.  

You can avoid acidification by having a diet high in plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables along with "superfoods" like greens.  Green foods are loaded with alkalizing power, minerals, magnesium and potassium which in our current society are not consumed in adequate amounts most of the time.  

Today is as good a day as any to become a "lean, green, disease fighting machine."  Choose salad every chance you get and use the darker green lettuces like romaine when possible.  Staying hydrated is another way to maintain alkalinity in the body, so drink at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces every day of water.  When your body stays alkaline, it is much easier for the immune system to do it's job of keeping you healthy.

Supplement

Unless you are eating 2-3 fruits, 4-6 vegetables and 5-11 servings of whole grains that were grown in non-depleted soils without the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers, everyday of the year it is unlikely that you are getting all the essential nutrients that your body needs to maintain optimal health.  There are certain essential nutrients and vitamins that your body cannot make and must receive from your diet.  Thanks to  modern farming and food processing, the nutrients in many of the foods we eat are void of the necessary components to truly fuel our body for optimum health.  For me supplementation isn't optional.  It's a necessity!  

How do you even begin to know where to start supplementing your diet with all the vast amounts of products and brands on the market?  The answer is simple.  Begin by taking a balanced, complete multi-vitamin and mineral supplement everyday.  This is not an option if you want to enjoy great health.    

All too often, doctors try to treat simple nutrient deficiencies with dangerous drugs and pharmaceuticals that can even cause greater nutrient loss and actually require vitamins and minerals to clear the medication from the system.  If you are currently on medications, then taking a multi-vitamin can be an effective way to avoid or decrease many of the side effects associated with medications.  Additionally, if you aren't on medication and want to decrease your chance of having to take medications then giving your body all the nutrients it needs each day is one of the best ways to do that.

So make a decision today to DETOXIFY, ALKALIZE and SUPPLEMENT everyday.  Your body will thank you for it.  Until next time, keep reaching for that healthy, happy life you deserve!



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DISCLAIMER
It Works! and its Independent Representatives Make No Curative Claims These Statements Have Not Been Evaluated by the FDA These Products are Not Intended to Diagnose, Treat, Cure, or Prevent Any Disease

Any link or ads that take you to an outside party indicates that I likely have an affiliate relationship and benefit in some way either by reciprocal links or financially.  I make all product recommendations and affiliate ad choices based on what I feel will most benefit my readers, not how much my commission or benefit is from that affiliate.  

THIS ARTICLE IS MEANT FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.  IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT OR CURE ANY DISEASE.  PLEASE ASK YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE BEGINNING ANY SUPPLEMENTATION PROGRAM. ANY HEALTH PROGRAM SHOULD BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN AND INVOLVE HEALTHY EATING, EXERCISING AND GOOD SUPPLEMENTATION.