Exercise Easier, Lose Weight Faster and Be a Healthier Person

WHY THE CRANBERRY CAN HELP YOU LIVE A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE...

2011-11-15T15:45:00.000-08:00

Even the Native Americans hundreds of years ago knew that the Cranberry had substancial health benefits, even thinking that it could treat illnesses. And now for certain through thorough scientific research that Cranberries can help you live a healthier and longer life. Yes, they may be a little on the tart side, but trust me in the long run they are worth it. And here are some solid reasons why...

Research into how the cranberry is in helping you become a more healthier person has shown that there are compounds found within the cranberry can help with the prevention of Urinary Tract Infections.

Interestingly enough studies have shown that powerful antioxidants called proanthocyanidins, or PACS for short, are like the bullies that show infections who's boss. And it seems as though it is a very effective way of preventing Urinary Tract Infections because recent studies done at Rutgers University suggest that by just drinking one glass of cranberry cocktail twice a day the benefits of said cocktail starts within only 2 hours of having drank it and can last up to 10 hours. In fact it effort has been put into extracting the PACS so as to offer people a more condensed, pill form, and less tart way of warding off and bullying their infections into place. Oh, and I almost forgot, but the PACS are not only good for infections but also have been shown to help with preventing plaque build up on teeth.

Also recent research that has delved even further into the beneficial properties of the Cranberry has shown that Cranberries have certain anit-inflammatory properties. So what that means it that by consuming Cranberries you are preventing and protecting yourself from chronic and life threatening diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and many types of cancer.

Now, yes the Cranberry can be very beneficial if we make it a habit to consume it regularly, but note something that is of great interest. And that is even though scientists have recently tried to extract and condense the different parts of the Cranberry that make it so good for our health, recently a study done at Worchester Polytechnic Institute showed that it is, "not just one certain part or component of the Cranberry that makes it so beneficial to consume", and that in fact we are far from truly understanding what components make the Cranberry beneficial for us.

So in a way I gues we can say that the Cranberry is not just something good for you, but something that when eaten whole, in juice or even as a sauce can prove to be a super food that makes you a healthier person, for
life.

WHY YOU NEED TO EAT: CHOCOLATE, COFFEE AND BEER...

2011-11-08T11:26:00.000-08:00

Have you been eating food that tastes like cardboard with the hope that you will be shedding off the pounds? Well most likely you have been trying to consume products like green tea, soy milk and ground turkey with the hope that these "healthy foods" will help you lose weigh. But the scary truth is that the green tea you are buying at your local grocery store in fact could be making you pack on the pounds.

For example, even though green tea is a healthy choice for anyone, the one you are buying at your local grocery store could very well be loaded with sugar. And the same thing goes with soy milk, because many varieties that are sold in grocery stores are being sweetened with evaporated cane juice. While, on the other hand, that ground turkey you cling to because it is "healthier" in many grocery stores is really in fact loaded with saturated fat even when you compare it to lean ground beef.

Now what about chocolate? Well dark chocolate has been proven to help with the elasticity of red blood cells which can help you maintain good blood flow. Also dark chocolate can help you if you are at risk of a stroke and even maintain that blood pressure problem of yours in check.

Also, coffee it seems is almost constantly being studied and tested and the truth is we are constantly seeing benefits for people who drink black coffee within moderation. For example, coffee has been proven to help retain memory and provide necessary antioxidants for the body. Also coffee has been proven to help with cardiovascular problems and even type 2 diabetes. So yes, that first cup of coffee in the morning really is he best part of waking up.

And now what about beer? Well if you are watching you calories you should chose a light beer but nonetheless consuming beer can provide your body with essential B vitamins. Also, if you drink a dark lager beer your body is receiving lutein, which helps with eyesight, and soludable fiber, which is good for your heart.

So really, why torture yourself with food that could actually be hurting you instead of helping you. Of course by no means you should go overboard and eat without moderation, but nonetheless chocolate, coffee and beer really can help you be a healthier person.

SUPER FOODS: The Strawberry…

2011-11-04T18:39:00.001-07:00

What has more nutritious value than an apple, orange or a banana?

They are small, bright red and when compared to apples, oranges and bananas they prove to be more nutrient packed, fat free and lower in calories than any of the before-mentioned. Yes, the strawberry is truly a super food that you should be eating.

In fact pound for pound, I mean ounce for ounce, the humble strawberry has more vitamin C than an orange does and being a great source of pectin the super strawberry can even help you lower your cholesterol.

Also the strawberry has proven effective even in people with liver problems. In fact eating strawberries has been proven to help stimulate liver cells and the renewal of hepatic tissue.

But wait we are not done yet, because the strawberry can also help people with arthritis because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Treat skin burns and even aid in weight loss because of high fiber and aspartic acid content which aids in the removal of excess toxins in the body. So why aren’t you eating your strawberries?

Sugar the world’s most addictive, addiction.

2011-11-04T17:07:00.000-07:00

Recently studies have shown that sugar can with time and repeated abuse can have a similar effect on the human brain to that of cocaine, nicotine and other drugs.

Believe it or not but that beautiful chocolate cupcake that you so adore could very well fit into the definition of an addiction, because recent studies on the matter have shown that if you are not careful you can be slowly bringing yourself into a “sugar addiction”, so to say.

For example in 2010 scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in found that after feeding rats fatty and sugary products like cheesecake, cake frosting, pound cake and even bacon the activity in their brain showed an increase of activity in the reward and pleasure regions. And even though the rats had access to healthy food all day the preference was heavily laid upon the junk food.

While on the other hand when 26 overweight women were given sips of chocolate milkshake while having a image resonance machine map the effect said milkshakes had on their brains. Then 6 months later when the same women were only shown pictures of milkshakes and had an image resonance machine again map the activity in their brains. The results were very interesting because the women that had gained weight since the last test had now shown reduced activity in the region of the brain that measures satisfaction and reward called the striatum.

Now that is where all the controversy lies because if we slowly overtime need more and more of something before feeling satisfaction or reward well then we will want more and more and most likely will not know when to stop.

Another study that illustrates very clearly this effect is where at Princeton university a study was done where a group if rats were given a water and sugar solution. Interestingly enough keep in mind that this sugar solution was pretty much the same percentage of water to sugar as there is in the majority of soft drinks. And the results of this study was that the rates that would drink this sugary solution would slowly but surely increase their intake and also at the same time change their normal diets, eating less and less of their normal foods.

So yes, in a way that beautiful, delightful and maybe even warm -fresh out of the oven chocolate cupcake could potentially lead you down the dark path of addiction. Although, it is not likely that it will completely destroy your life, the truth of the matter is that care should be exercised. Although on the other hand this is most likely the “sweetest addiction” anyone could ever have....

FASTEST WEIGHT LOSS EXERCISE YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE!

2011-03-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants to lose weight quick, fast and easy. Now is that possible? Is it even feasible? Well OF COURSE IT IS! How? It is very simple: quick, fast and easy weight loss is only possible if you make it possible. Now there are two ways that you can make it possible 1) through diet and 2) through exercise. On this blog we already have some articles about diet and even about how to get over those really hard cravings, so we won’t talk much about that on this post. Today is all about exercise and more specifically 5 steps on how you can chose an exercise that you will not just like but love...

Why are you doing all of this again? In any type of endeavor in life you can never go in blind without any idea about what you are doing or where you are going. Now when it comes to exercise and choosing the exercise program that you want to use to accelerate your weight loss progress that fundamental rule does not change. So keep in mind before you think about and or choose a new exercise program keep in mind the reasons why you are doing this. In the end you will have a much better idea of what you need and when you need in terms of a exercise program.

Where are you on the totem pole? You know we are all people and every single person is different. Every single person is at a different point in their lives and need different things at different times. That does not change at all when it comes to an exercise program. One thing that we need to keep in mind for not only our progress but for our safety is at what level we are on. Are you a beginner, intermediate or advanced? Do you go to the gym or exercise once a month, pretty regularly or do you have you own personal P.O box at your local gym because you’re there almost constantly? These are all questions that you need to ask yourself for your own safety and personal progress in choosing an exercise that will work for you.

How much time do you have on your hands? We can’t hide it or avoid it everyone has a different schedule and for that reason we all can’t enjoy the same kind of exercise. Whatever you do please do not chose an exercise program that is going to interfere with your other responsibilities whether they be physical, emotional or family matters because you will only frustrate the life out of yourself. If you don’t have time look for ways to make time for smaller lesser workouts because if you don’t you will probably start an exercise program - want super quick overnight results - not get them and swear off exercising the rest of your life. Keep in mind your time restraints so as to find an exercise program that you will do regularly, will truly enjoy and will benefit from.

Don’t be what you are not. For some reason people think that they need to belong to a gym, go to a class or be part of some club. Now if you are a social and competitive person that is great join every club, gym and class you want join them twice if that is what you want but if you’re not then don’t. If you are a reserved and quite person that is fine no one should force you, make you feel bad or corner you into something like that. You have to be sincere to yourself and realize what you really need if you want to have weight loss success and feel more than free to look for exercise alternatives to do by yourself, with a close friend or at home that you are comfortable with. Be honest to yourself and realize the type of support group you need and if you need to start alone or start with the whole neighborhood I personally wish the best to you.

How deep are your pockets? Exercise is something that everyone should do and that everyone should enjoy. Although sometimes exercise – especially when it comes to clubs and gyms – can get kind of expensive. So what kind of investment are you willing to make? Well everything depends on you and where you are at towards your weight loss goal and if feel that X program could help you down the long run. Although just keep price in mind for when choosing an exercise program you probably will not feel too good having to leave a program for financial reasons when it could have been prevented.

If you enjoyed this article please subscribe…

LOOSE WEIGHT FAST BY ONLY THINKING!

2011-03-16T20:26:00.001-07:00

Now I know that I will have to explain this title to. So first things first you cannot lose all the weight you want by just thinking. BUT you can lose weight fast by only thinking. What do I mean? What’s the difference? Well I mean if we could only stop to think about the things that we are about to eat before we eat them we can lose weight a whole lot faster. Keep reading and I will give you 3 solid reasons why this is…

Do you know how many “hidden calories” there are? How many hidden calories have you had today? Well personally I am sure you probably don’t even have a clue. Why? Well let me put an example, which has more caloric content: a serving size of Häagen-Dazs Sticky Toffee Pudding or a Dunkin Donuts corn muffin? Well I was floored when I found out that a simple “corn muffin” had a caloric content of 510 in comparison to the Häagen-Dazs coming in at a 300 on the calorie scale. Now I have no idea what kind of corn they use to in those muffins but that is a lot of hidden calories, or in other words, the calorie “sticker shock” you get from foods that are seemingly harmless (what you would think of a corn muffin, YIKES!).

There aren’t any hidden calories but are you really going to be able to “work it off”? Usually when someone is dieting and trying to lose weight and they start using that phrase, “Don’t worry I will work it off”, it usually is a sign of trouble in fact it is a blaring ALARM! Before we even think about uttering words even similar to those THINK about if you really are willing to do it. Think about what you are about to eat and what you will have to do to work it all off. You do not want to backpedal. We want to reach our weight loss goals. You can do it!

Ok no hidden calories, I’ll work it off but do I REALLY NEED it? So we have gotten through the really big hurdles. You have made sure there is not one calorie unaccounted for. You’ve calculated off of all the running and jumping jacks you’re going to do. Now there is only one more question you have to think about. Do I REALLY NEED it? Yes I know that we are grown adults and we don’t need mommy telling us what to eat and when to eat it, but still do you REALLY NEED it? Especially now in such a fast paced society in which we make numerous decisions in matters of seconds it is important to stop and think especially when it comes to our health. So the question is: to lose weight fast will YOU stop and think?

5 WAYS TO GET YOUR METABOLISM TO WORK FOR YOU!

2011-03-15T18:28:00.000-07:00

Losing weight is usually a constant uphill battle and few are able to say they have gotten to the top. Although, how can we level out the playing field? If you want to make losing weight a little easier a great step towards that is actually very simple raise your metabolism. Your metabolism helps your body to break down the foods you eat, take the nutritional value out of them and lose weight. So basically raising your metabolism is something that not only will help you reach your goal but it will also help you maintain it. But how do we raise our metabolism? Of course it is not going to be a piece of cake, but it is something that anyone – and I mean ANYONE – can do. In fact raising your metabolism can be as simple as watching what you eat and ‘’where” you eat it. Nonetheless here are 5 simple ways to raise your metabolism…

The best part of waking up is breakfast the table. One of the most simple ways to raise your metabolism is by doing what many people take for granted – eating breakfast. In fact eating a healthy breakfast – you know the whole grain, whole fruit and granola type breakfast – has proven to raise the metabolism by 10%. But if you still not sold just think about this your body and your metabolism need fuel to burn it needs calories your body will not work for you until you have worked for it. If anything you will cause more harm than good.

Who wants the window seat? Where do you sit every morning at the breakfast table? How important is that question when we are talking about your metabolism? Well it is pretty important because sunlight can raise your metabolism our bodies interpret sunlight as a sign that it is time to get up and go to work. Although not only does sunlight give us a metabolism jump start but it also helps muscle and bone strength – plus you get a nice tan too. So next time you eat with your family sit by the window.

Would you like ice in your drink? Another thing that we should watch out for if we are trying to be metabolism conscious is not only what we eat but also what we drink. For example by drinking drinks that have ice in them our metabolism has to work harder because it has to heat up our stomach to break it down. Not only that but drinking certain hot drinks like coffee or tea we raise our heart rates which, in turn, increases our metabolism.

You want it spicy or extra spicy? Do you like foods that have a lot of spices in them? Well some people do and some don’t the thing is by adding different spices to our foods we eat daily we can easily increase our metabolism. For example just by adding a teaspoon of cinnamon to what we are eating we can raise our metabolism by 20%, US Agricultural Research Service. (Oh and but the way I am still working on that article about cinnamon – it’s a comin’!)

If all else fails at least you won’t get scurvy. Another tip on raising your metabolism is as simple as eating an orange. In fact just consuming 500 mg of vitamin C can help our bodies burn 39% MORE while exercising. Of course you do not want to go overboard because vitamin C is one of those vitamins that can affect you seriously by consuming in high dosages, but think about it like this at least you won’t get scurvy…

TIRED? 7 SIMPLE & EASY ENERGY BOOSTS...

2011-03-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

It is about 3 in the afternoon you feel the afternoon sunshine and it is starting to get to you. You start stretching, maybe standing up or walking around. You sit down and just start yawning like you’ve never yawned before and you finally utter those famous words, “I’m so tired”, and most likely you let out another yawn after or while you are still saying that. So what is there to do? Well never mind if you are at work or if you’re at home in this article we will see 7 simple and easy ways to get that much needed energy boost whether it be at the beginning of the day, the middle or evening.

The Chinese have it right on the money err, I mean the ears. With thousands of medicinal study the Chinese truly do come out on top, at least with natural energy boosts. For example ancient Chinese medicine believes that stimulating certain pressure points in your body cause your blood circulation and energy to improve (they also believed the ear to be a magical medical box, a health barometer and diagnostic tool but that’s beside the point). Now we can definitely debate this ancient Chinese method of instant energy but note that Mark Hyman, M.D., co-medical director at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Mass says that, “The ear is a mini representation of the whole body”, which actually gives some credibility to the ancient Chinese doctors, but how can we put it to the test? Well the good doctor suggests that we generally should rub our ears all over for about a minute, of course don’t hurt yourself either, and that almost immediately you should feel more alert.

Blow everyone away with…FIRE! I got to tell you that when I heard about this technique I really got interested in it (*note: I said I was interested in it when I “heard” about it actually reading it was just okay). Now here is the deal many times what causes us to be tired is a slow but consistent build-up of carbon dioxide in our blood stream. What does that mean? Well that means that there will be a point when we are feeling sluggish. What can we do about it? Well in yoga there is a technique called the “Breath of fire” and to try this simple technique out all you have to do is that while breathing through your nose, inhale deeply and then exhale in 20 to 30 short, rapid bursts, drawing in your stomach muscles to force out each burst. Repeat three times, taking a few breaths between each cycle so you don't get dizzy and that is it – just don’t burn down the house.

You will never think the same about Tic Tacs the same ever again. Another way to up the ante and get a quick energy boost is as simple as taking a mint. In fact studies have shown that the mint scent actually stimulates nerves in our brain. Not only that but when you eat aromatic candies (like mints), odor molecules circulating in your mouth drift up your nose via the back of your throat, multiplying the scent's intensity. So I guess the real question that should be asked is when was the last time you did a Tic Tac?

Ok, where is the bag of complex hydrates? Another simple way to boost our energy and get a back to work quickly and easier and just feeling better is by having what we had way back when as kindergartners- SNACK TIME! Not only that but if we really want to have a positive energy boost well we need to probably eat what we ate as kindergartners- ANTS ON A LOG! Ok, maybe not exactly ants on a log but things like nuts, dairy, fruits and vegetables things like this have the nutritional value of giving us a much needed energy boost. Oh and by the way stay away from the sweets they will have the exact opposite effect.

A nice glass of water don’t hurt that bad either. Now this is one we all should DEFINITELY do. Whenever we have that mid afternoon slump, why not down a nice cold glass of water? Usually when we feel a little bit like we are in a slump it is because simply we are dehydrated so really a great thing to do is to drink water- not only when we feel tired or in a slump - but on a regular consistent daily basis.

Yeah go ahead and drink some caffeine but stay away from the coffee. Caffeine is perfectly fine to have, to drink, to enjoy and to savor. Although, and heed this warning, if we want to get out of a mid afternoon slump green tea is the way to go. Coffee is great- and I love coffee – but the thing is that coffee is overkill and it will end up probably giving us some type of a late mid afternoon early evening crash, and we do not want that. So if you feel tired drink some nice green tea and think about not only how it will get you out of your slump but will also help you in various other ways from anti-aging to disease fighting antioxidants. But if it still nags at you go ahead and drink it inside your favorite coffee mug.

Exercise, exercise and exercise. Yet again if we are feeling that we are in a slump and need a pick-me up well look no farther just try some exercise. Of course we are not asking you to do a full workout at your office but just simply walking around for five minutes, stretching and or just maybe some dancing anything to get your body moving, the oxygen flowing and the blood pumping.

5 REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO EXERCISE TODAY!

2011-03-13T16:52:00.000-07:00

I read a few days ago a message that someone had sent me, you know one of those messages that are supposed to make you laugh or reflect on your life or something, and it said, “we should add a extra day to the week and call it Someday, because so much would get done that day”. Now I know that we have all kinds of projects and jobs that we all are going to have to do when that one day comes around, but one of those things should never be to get healthier. Nothing is more serious than your health and if you think otherwise well just ask your family, the ones that care and love you, and they will be sure to tell you of the importance of getting healthier not “someday” but today. But still, sometimes it is still difficult to get over that big huge hurdle of “someday”, and actually take solid steps to better one’s health especially through exercising. So with that in mind, what are some solid reasons that will encourage us to better our health exercising not just “someday” but today?

A baby will not be able to sleep better than you. Have you ever been really tired? Well of course you have I do not doubt it but the thing is you were probably tired from work, the kids, the family and what may have you and that tiredness has the effect of a very bad sleep quality. Yet on the other hand have you ever been tired from exercise? Try it out sometime because physical exertion does have the great aftereffect of a great night’s sleep. (And if you are worried about the wife, kids and job well keep reading…)
Serene will not begin to describe you. Exercise has shown to improve mood, help relieve anxiety and even have positive effects for people with depression. Keep in mind that of course benefits will vary from person to person.
Ever need to get away but couldn’t? Well not anymore. Like we mentioned before the stresses of life may and will get to us every once in a while. Yet a very good thing to do to counteract that negative effect is nothing short of e-x-e-r-c-i-s-e. Exercise puts our minds on something different. That is why it is so important that we enjoy the type of exercise that we do. When we enjoy exercising and truly focus on it and give it the importance that it should be given we not only benefit our bodies physically but mentally as well. Of course we NEED to give our families the time they DESERVE too, but if we ever need to there is nothing wrong with running around the block every once in a while.
Ever needed to feel good about something? Go ahead now’s the time. Ever feel down in the dumps? A little sad? Have you ever needed a little pick me up? Well the truth is exercising is one of those things that if you do it today by the time you are done with your first work out well you will already feel better. Just the fact that we were able to exercise maybe 30 minutes or something is enough to usually make someone want to tell others. In fact I am sure that we all have been there where as soon as we are done exercising and have rested a bit we want to tell others what, when and how we are exercising. So really exercise gives us immediate benefits.
You will be at the top of your class, again. Not only do the passing of time have an effect on our health but also on our mental abilities. For example as we age memory problems along with a decline in cognitive ( cognitive - the process of knowing and, more precisely, the process of being aware, knowing, thinking, learning and judging ) function effects a truly extensive number of older adults. So how can we age with finesse, so to say? Well once again exercise has proven to help older adults retain their mental abilities even as they age but is that all? Well, no because similar positive effects can be found even in children. In fact University of Illinois researchershave found that physical activity may enhance the academic achievements of children by improving their attention and working memory skills. So as we can see the benefits mentally of exercise can be seen across the board from older adults even to children. So the question remains, why haven’t you started?

4 REASONS WHY YOU LOSE WEIGHT WITH GOOD SLEEP...

2011-03-13T11:22:00.000-07:00

What if I told you that one of the most important things to a great exercise regiment was: good ol’ fashioned rest? Would you believe me? Ah, come on I thought that you guys would believe in me more. Besides the point I am not that crazy anyway. But really, getting back to the point, how much effect does resting well have on our, not only exercise regiment, goal of achieving better health? Well let’s see…

You’re not going to be as sharp as you used to be. Now of course starting a exercise regiment will have its respective physical and mental toll. Now imagine adding to that burden by getting to bed later, waking up earlier and basically cheating your body of much needed sleep. How will you be feeling then? But wait, that is not it, it is 9 o’clock time to exercise. Well personally I do not think so. So pretty much if you want to see results and be consistent with your exercise program get some good ol’ shut eye…

Physically you’ll be a slug. Now I am going to be very positive and say that yes you got to bed very late and woke up super early this morning, you don’t feel as bright as a daisy, but your ready to do your morning workout. Sounds great right? Did I just prove myself wrong? Well just remember this depriving yourself of sleep is also depriving your physical body of much needed rest and relaxation. And all this directly affecting you for example, one of the first things that a tired sleepy person feels are body aches. Imagine that you have not even started exercising and your body is already telling you that it is finished.

You cheat your “bestest” friend. Of course I imagine by now we are getting the picture of the importance of sleeping well. But now it is time to keep another tidbit in mind. When you are depriving yourself of sleep you are cheating the best friend you can have while your trying to loose weight, and no I am not talking about your exercising buddy, I mean you slow your metabolism. I mean really think about it if you are moving slow everything, and I mean everything, will move slow along with you.

Exercise to lose weight stay awake to put it back on. Another reason why not sleeping adequately just robs you of your efforts at being healthy and losing weight is that by not having good sleeping habits you simple just pack on the pounds. For example recent research by the University of Bristol has shown that people who sleep a average of 5 hours a night have 15% more ghrelin than those who slept for 8 hours and they were also found to have 15% less leptin. Now translated to english? Well in other words sleeping 5 hours a night on a habitual basis causes hormonal imbalances that INCREASE the sensation of hunger. Once again sabotaging your better health efforts. Although you may think that this has not or will not happen to you well, food for thought, the same study showed that “over the last 50 years we have reduced the amount of time we spend asleep by up to two hours a night because of increasing pressures on our time (work, school, family, television, computer games and the internet)”.

7 WAYS TO DESTROY CRAVINGS!

2011-03-12T10:59:00.000-08:00

How do you triumph in the war against yourself? Because in all actuality the truth is that having a fitness or dietary program we are in a fight against ourselves. We are fighting to change lifelong habits. Whether they are lifelong eating habits or exercise habits starting a exercise program or dietary program immediately goes against all of our natural instincts. It’s FRIENDLY FIRE! And like I mentioned the last article “#1 Hardest thing to do in the world & 4 ways to overcome it” starting a exercise program is very difficult but there are ways to overcome the hurdles. Now what about the dieting part? Because yes maybe we are able to eat everything we want and exercise off all that we ate but is the food that we are eating contributing to our overall health? Well if they are not they need to be because remember YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR LIFE! And yes, I know that sometimes we crave for something and it is eating away at us and it seems impossible to resist, but what can you do in that circumstance? Well here are a few ways to resist cravings to “curb your enthusiasm” so to say…

Try to stay busy. Now I know that this is not anything new. But the thing is it is one of the best. Now when I say stay busy I am saying DO ANYTHING whether it be exercise, scrapbooking, talking to someone or at the least play with your kids. I DO NOT KNOW! Think about something or do my favorite thing take a nap…
Try brushing your teeth. Now this is one that I like because when you think about it it is something that is sort of a double good thing. Because one thing that is good about brushing your teeth is that you are maintaining very good dental hygiene and your dentist will be super proud of you and on the other hand for some strange reason when you have those pearly whites nice and clean you really do not want to mess them up too soon.
Do you like cinnamon? Well it’s time to like it more. Studies are now showing that sprinkling cinnamon capsules on to your food will curve your appetite. Also keep in mind that cinnamon is also very good for your overall health to for example: U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland showed that cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells, Cinnamon spice contains anti-inflammatory compounds which can be useful in reducing pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, Cinnamon is a blood thinning agent which also acts to increase circulation. This blood circulation helps significantly in removing pain. Good blood circulation also ensures oxygen supply to the body cells leading to higher metabolic activity. You significantly reduce the chance of getting a heart attack by regularly consuming cinnamon and not only that but you get fresh breath too (expect another blog post just about cinnamon). Regularly taking cinnamon is good for you take the time and use cinnamon more often. Nature's Bounty Cinnamon 1000mg, 100 Capsules (Pack of 3)
Drink WATER! Yes I know that everyone knows this but a friendly reminder is always good….
Massage those cravings away. I like this one and I think that you will too, try massaging some of your troubles and cravings away. Because really think about it when your getting a message what are you thinking about? Are you thinking about the bills, that appointment at 10, the kids or that chocolate cake that looks so good? No, right? Well that is the point massage all those troubles away along with those cravings.
Try not to be alone. This is important because really when you have someone there looking over your shoulder that has the true intention of helping you in the long run well maybe you’ll think twice about satisfying that craving.
Think about the consequences, and I mean really think. This is probably the most important step anyone can take and probably the one step that everyone should take. Starting a diet plan is no easy and usually those killer cravings will not come the first day. Usually they come after we have seen some progress. To really halt those cravings a little bit think about what you are about to do and how it will affect you. Think about how it will affect your family and friends your fitness buddy if they every found out. Think how you will feel after eating that big huge piece of chocolate cake. Will it REALLY make you feel better? Will it TRULY put an END to your craving?

#1 HARDEST THING TO DO IN THE WORLD & 4 WAYS TO OVERCOME IT...

2011-03-11T20:30:00.000-08:00

The hardest thing in the world to do with anything is starting something. The start of something is has and always will be the most difficult thing to do. And yes seeing the success of people do encourage us but they also can make us feel horrible inside that we are not that person but when you are at the start of something you unfortunately seem to always have to be looking “up” and usually what you see is someone already beat you to the top. So what can you do to stay on the metaphorical “ball”? What can we do to exercise easy starting today until we too are at the top? What are simple things that we all can do from home to keep us motivated? Because seriously joining a health club or a fitness circle or something to that effect probably are not the most realistic options we may have at our disposal. We have to keep in mind that we are people who have families and we need to maintain them. So what is there to do?

Music keeps the rythym even when we don’t. “Music calms the savage soul”, or so they say, personally I have met very few savage souls who where into music, but nonetheless music can encourage the soul who exercises. I mean really if the Vikings could use music to move war ships why can’t we use music to move our exercise regiment? Okay we will leave the Vikings be but the thing is this if you like music, and even if you are not too into music, try to bring it into your exercise regiment. Although let’s not be too adamant about this music thing try maybe: radio, podcasts, audiobooks etc…

Keeping realistic goals. Remember when you started working? Maybe you had really high expectations when you started or maybe as a child you thought you had so much potential. But when you started actually working or you found that first job, what happened? Suddenly those dreams that little Johnny or little Erica had came crashing down but what can you do you have to work. Well something similar happens every once in a while with exercising but the thing is when this usually happens, since exercising is not viewed as something as important as maintaining a job, whatever exercise routine or plan suddenly disappears. So to counteract that terrible childhood habit of expecting way too much we need to learn to as adults start the adult habit of putting realistic goals and remember that the majority of things that we will try to do will not work- immediately at least.

Who ever said you had to do this alone. Have you ever been dragged into something that you never wanted anything to do in the first place? But the thing was you had to do it because your best friend just begged and begged for your help or you accompaniment or your time. What happened to you? Well because of your friend you felt obligated to follow through ever though against your will. Well something similar can happen with a exercise program. Because think about it imagine if you included at least one person in your exercise plan? Better yet what about your family (if you have small children it is even better)? Could it be possible that through the persistence of family or friends you could feel somewhat obligated to “follow” through? Well the thing is that the chance of you leaving behind and forgetting you exercise routine is greatly reduced. Especially if you have younger children because the truth is if you tell a child that we are all going out as a family to play, walk or whatever your child will bug you until there is no end. So really we never have to be alone.

Keep in mind what you are really doing to yourself. If you are driving and you are coming to a stoplight and you apply pressure to the brake obviously your car will loose speed and eventually stop, but what will happen if you let go of the brake? Well, again obviously you will hit the car in front of you. What is the point? Well like the car crash we will have consequences if we suddenly stop a exercise program. In the Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise researchers studied the effects that a stop in exercise and with inconsistent exercise comes consistent weight gain (source: Williams, Paul T. Asymmetric Weight Gain and Loss from Increasing and Decreasing Exercise. Med & Sci Spts & Ex. 40(2):296-302, February 2008. ). In other words stopping a exercise program has truly terrible results. So even though the start of something does not look so promising remember we can end up like the car and crash something we do not want so instead think of the good you will do not today but in the future for your OVERALL health and just keep in mind the immediate consequences of stopping today.

3 SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE EXERCISE PART OF THE DAILY GRIND.

2011-03-11T16:40:00.000-08:00

What about some normal everyday activities that can be considered exercise? Because think about it as you go through your day you are becoming a healthier person. You are no longer taking “special workout” time from your daily activities but your making your daily activities your workout, could life be any better? Well of course it can but that is beside the point. The point is what are some exercises that can be done so as to do a “daily activities workout”?

Playing with your kids. Children are wonderful things there so cute when there born, they love you “THIS MUCH’’ (hands spreading out) and they never ever stop playing. Now the never ever stop playing part can be to our advantage for example hae you every thought about maybe taking some time to play with your child for let’s say 30 minutes? How many calories do you think that you will burn rolling around, playing football, wrestling or whatever have you with your cute little bundle of joy? But, don’t think just about the calories, also keep in mind that instead of working out first and then going home very tired and having you child attack you because of extreme boredom you will have spent 30 minutes- 1 hour of quality play and exercise time. Also not only that but think of the good that playing together will be on both your health and that of your child.

Wash the SUV every once in a while. I imagine that many of you are owners of cars. How does a good old fashioned rag and super sponge hand wash sound for your car? When was the last time you washed your car yourself? Of course an auto wash is better than pre-buttered toast but the thing is washing your car by hand is pretty good physical activity. Think about it you reaching up over the roof, your bending down to the tires and walking around in circles making sure everything is just right. In fact I think that if I owned a Escalade I probably should have a washboard stomach by now.

Take the long road. When you are going to the post office, picking up the dry cleaning or what have you do you fight with the 99 year old lady with the broken hip for the last front-door parking space? Well first thing off keep in mind that the 99 year old lady will be extremely disappointed in you and secondly you are not doing yourself any favors. Really when you think about it if the distance that you walk from your car to the front door of whatever building causes you to break a sweat that is most definitely a very good thing.

These were some suggestions for som easy exercises that anyone can do during the usual daily grind. What do you guys do?

5 Easy & Simple Exercises to do...

2011-03-11T13:26:00.000-08:00

Easy & simple usually are not words that accompany exercise. Nonetheless they never ever have to be enemies. For example how many things do you think that you could do on a daily basis that could help you with your health? Help you loose wait? Or just make you feel better? Well I could at the least think of ten things and I wanted to share them with you...

While sitting down hold your stomach in as long as you can.
Place a small ball behind your knees and press it repeatedly.
Work out your calve muscles a little by lifting up your legs on the balls of your feet repeatedly. If anything keep in mind that this helps with circulation in your feet.
Have you ever tried tightening the muscles in your bottom? Do it a couple of times and feel the burn…
And yet the most simple and easiest of them all is just walking.

Yes these are things that everyone can do at their home and feel good about doing them. For example why don’t we try just for once walking a little more than we have to? Going back twice instead of looking for the way to “save a trip”? While we are sitting down why not try to move our legs and feet? Nonetheless the most important thing that we all must remember is that we need to be positive and keep realistic goals. It no about being a body builder it is just a question about being healthy…

Does it really have to be so HARD!?!?!?

2011-03-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

Have'nt we all kind of felt this way???

Many times when going on a diet the hard part about everything is not the dieting part. The truly hard part is the EXERCISING part! I know changing one’s habits slowly but surely is within everyone’s grasp, for when it comes to food, but sometimes there are just exercises that not everyone can do. Or maybe there are just certain exercises that you just do not enjoy doing at all. Exercises that make you feel like you are a in a specialized military program and nobody should have to feel that way. And because of that this blog will be about different exercises that are simple but effective and will help everyone towards their goal of a better self.…