Week 2: "Get Those Curves In The Right Places"

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Incorporating exercise into any lifestyle can prove to be extremely challenging. But, if you are serious about leading a healthier life exercise is essential! You need to find what is right for you,your body, and your schedule. Challenging your body to move does reap benefits:

 1. More control over body weight

2. Prevention of heart disease and diseases

 3. Improved mood 

4. An Energy boost

Developing a personal fitness plan is key. Ask yourself "What do I want to be able to do physically that I cannot accomplish now?" Do you want to be able to walk two miles without stopping? Or maybe you would like to compete in a triathlon some day.Write down a long term exercise goal and figure out what you need to do to get there. 

Maybe you don't desire to have a long term exercise goal. You just want to start moving and maintain the motivation to. Keeping exercise fun is the long term goal. Fitness classes can prove to be incredibly worth while. Also, having an exercise partner can really make a difference. Having someone to motivate you or, more importantly, having someone to motivate.

Here are some quizzes I came across that help to find what type of exercise is best for you:

http://exercise.about.com/od/exerciseforbeginners/a/quizbythebook.htm

http://just-for-mom.quiz.kaboose.com/27-what-exercise-is-right-for-you/7

http://www.wholeliving.com/quiz/whats-your-workout-personality

Hello Kale

In Michael Pollen's book Food Rules Rule # 39 is "Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself." Kale chips are certainly Pollen approved. These crunchy salty snacks are so tasty you'll forget they're great for you. Kale is super high in Vitamins A,K,and C. Not to mention a great source of calcium. 

Here is a Kale chip recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of kale
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of seasoned salt

Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 350degrees F. Be sure to grease pan.

2.Tear kale away from stem into bite size pieces. Wash thoroughly and dry with a salad spinner.

3. Place kale pieces on pan and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt.

4. Bake until edges are brown but not burnt. About ten to fifteen minutes.

Banana Buttons

A quick,easy,frozen dessert. Did I mention high in potassium?

Ingredients:

• 1-2 bananas
• 3 tablespoons of peanut butter.
• 1 tablespoon of mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Slice bananas into bite size pieces. About 1/4 of an inch.
2. Make a peanut butter sandwich out of two banana slices.
3. Top off with chocolate chip. Wrap in wax paper and place in freezer for at least one hour.

Week 1: Declaring War On Diet Soda

It sparkles, it makes my tongue tingle, oh how I am in love with diet coke! A true diet coke addict, it would not be rare for me to drink seven of these canned delights a day. This love affair cannot go on. Starting this week my aim is to drink only water (note previous post), fruit juice, coffee, and tea. Diet coke is not a healthy choice for any dieter. Not only are its contents hazarous to your body but also damaging to your attempted weight loss. Wish me luck, my bond with diet coke is strong.

Watering Weight Loss

Open any book about weight loss and one of the first tips listed will certainly be DRINK WATER! The supposed magic number? Eight, eight fluid ounces of water each day. I don't know about you, but to me that seems like a lot. Not only is that a lot of water to be carrying around but it's also a lot to be getting rid of. In the past, during my eight times eight attempts, I found myself constantly leaving my desk at work for the bathroom. I did however notice I felt fuller, therefore eating less. I have good news for those of you who are pissed about this simple weight loss rule. Dr. Oz recently released a list of "Six Common Medical Myths"  and myth number three rids dieters, or anyone trying to be healthy, of this eight times eight rule. According to Dr. Oz the sixty four ounces of water requirement is not taking into account the water you absorb through the food you eat. You actually might be at risk of drowning "healthy people at rest naturally maintain a water balance and what you don't use you excrete as urine. Still, if you consume too much water too quickly, you can get water toxicity, a potentially life-threatening situation where the kidneys just can't manage processing large quantities of fluid all at once."

Bottom line, I think it is important to carry around a water bottle with you all day, to stay hydrated, and to replace sugary drinks with your water bottle. But, you don't have to feel as if you are racing against time to drink away your body weight in water.

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/six-common-medical-myths

Do The Avocado Apple Crunch

I had too much guacamole to know what to do with. I was going to just eat it with chips until I came across a nice red apple on my kitchen counter. These two items, along with a nice crispy garlic bagel, make for a delicious lunch... and crunch.

Ingredients:

• 1 mini whole wheat bagel toasted
• 1/4 cup of spinach
• 2 tbsp of guacamole (see previous post)
• 1/2 apple sliced super thin
• 1/4 tsp garlic

An Avocado Delight

You may ask yourself "what else can I do with an avocado besides mash it up?" Well...this delightful recipe is your answer.This salad is easy to make for lunch and will hold your appetite for many hours.

Ingredients:

• 1 avocado
• 1/4 cup of diced onion
• 1/2 cup of fresh chopped tomato
• 1 1/2 cup- 2 cups of spinach
• 1/2 tbsp of olive oil
• 1/4 tsp of garlic (optional)