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10 Little Things We Forget to Take Time For

We’ve all been there. We get so busy that we tend to forget the really little things in life, the things that if we took a little time to do, we’d be much happier…or healthier. So, I put together a little list to remind you of the things you may want to remind yourself to live a more peaceful, wholesome life.

1. Take Your Vitamins. Even though they don’t taste like grape and resemble Flinstone characters anymore, they are still super important to our health and all it takes is a few seconds to gulp one down. Try One a Day Women’s, which has calcium for bone strength and loads of Vitamin D. 
2. Say “I Love You” at least once a day to someone, whether that be your mom, your boyfriend or even your best friend.
3. Say “thank you” when someone compliments you once in a while, rather than brushing them off. C’mon, sometime it feels good to get a little confidence boost, so eat it up for once! You deserve it.
4. Turn off your phone, computer, Blackberry, ipod, or whatever piece of technology you have with you 24/7. Even just turning it off for a … Read More!

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Superfood of the Week: Almonds


Why They are Good for You:
  • Helps lower chance of developing Osteoporosis
  • Helps with bone growth 
  • Contains calcium (Hey, maybe we don’t need THAT much milk after all…), protein, potassium, and iron 
  • Perfect fill me-up snack to tide you over for a few hours 
What They Taste Great In:
  • Sprinkle slivered almonds on your favorite yogurt for an extra crunch!
  • Add a few to your oatmeal or cereal in the morning for the perfect protein-enhanced breakfast.
  • Make your own trail mix with almonds, dried fruit and dark chocolate chips or try my “Delightful Trail Mix” recipe.
  • Add sliced almonds to rice, quinoa or other hot pasta dishes.
      

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Weird Body Quirks: Why does the size on the tag matter so much?

           A few weeks ago, a friend of mine came home from a long day at the mall.  Excited to hear about her new buys, I asked in anticipation what clothing items she had bought, only to find myself shocked by her answer. “I didn’t buy anything,” she replied. “WHAT?! Nothing? Not even one dress? One shirt? WHY?” I asked, confused. (Yes, I admit when I go to the mall I come home with 5 bags but that’s besides the point.)  “’Cause nothing fit me in my size,” she responded. “And there is no way I was buying clothes in the next size up!”

            After that day, I really started thinking about size and how today’s society today defines everything by size. It’s as if size defines the person, or brands them in a way. There are the tiny size “0” model-like types, the petites, the “average size 8s” and the “plus-size” crew.

It’s funny how that tiny little number on the tag holds such a great amount of meaning to some people. After all, it’s a measly strip of nylon! And, yes, I’ll admit that I myself have been a culprit of this ridiculous thinking. I once refused to buy Read More!

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6 Ways to Slim Up Your Summer Salad


      Salads don’t always have to be a boring “diet food” with just iceberg lettuce, a tomato and a few cucumber slices thrown onto a plate. However, on the other hand, some salads (especially at popular chain restaurants) can pack on thousands of calories. But don’t fear: here are some tips to keep you salad delicious and healthy at the same time.

1.    Make Your Own Dressing:

Instead of pouring on fatty store-bought ranch dressing, try making your own dressing using an olive oil base.  

Whisk the oil with your favorite all natural 100% juice, like pear, pineapple, or raspberry to create a thick, delicious salad dressing in minutes. If you’re not a fan of the fruity flavors, simply top your salad with olive oil, lemon and a dash of salt and pepper.

2.    Pack on the Nuts

Ditch the fattening croutons for a variety of nutritious nuts. Nuts are packed with good fats and are a great source of Omega 3’s, which contribute to heart health and overall nutrition.

Be creative with your choice of nuts, changing it up from pine nuts, slivered almonds and chopped walnuts. They’ll add an extra crunch to your salad, and you won’t even miss … Read More!

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Mind Over Matter: How Your Mind Can Affect Your Body


             I used to be one of those people who, like many others, were obsessed with losing weight. My mind was consumed with thoughts of looking “perfect” and fitting into that dress hanging in my closet that I hadn’t worn in five years.

 I’d let my compulsive, negative thoughts take over and get to me so much that I’d weigh myself three, four, or sometimes even five times a day. My behavior was crazy. It was unhealthy.

 That’s when I recently realized that being healthy doesn’t have to be so stressful and difficult to achieve. Sustaining a healthy body shouldn’t feel like a never-ending, horrifying chore. It shouldn’t feel like work… it should feel good, shouldn’t it?

That’s when it hit me. So I made a vow to myself to try to stop all those “bad” thoughts and habits, and began treating my body a little more nicely, a little more positively. And that’s exactly when I finally started seeing some real results that I-and all of you-deserve.

Here are 4 simple steps to help you use the power of your mind to get the body (and positive body image) you’ve always dreamed of!

1.   Reward Yourself:

Holiday’s and birthdays Read More!

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Interval Routine: #1 Calorie Blaster

Interval training is the new best thing to do at the gym! Intervals, which involve staying at a steady pace with periodic speed bursts or sprints, holds many benefits. Studies have shown that intervals, when compared with a steady workout, burn more calories and rev up your metabolism all day long!
But, don’t be fooled. These calorie-blasting workouts can be tough.
If you’re a beginner like me, try my favorite workout done on the treadmill. (If you hate running, you can do this on a bike or elliptical too!)
Minutes 1-5 Warm up, walking at a 3.5 pace
Minutes 5-6 Walk at a 4
Minutes 6-6:30 Sprint at 7+
Minutes 6:30-7:30 Walk at 4
Minutes 7:30-8:00 Sprint at 7+
Minutes 8:00-9:00 Walk at 4
Minutes 9:00-9:30 Sprint at 7+
((Repeat this workout until you reach 30 minutes; then cool down at a 3-3.5 for 5 minutes))
Remember: stretch after  : )… Read More!

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Grapefruits 'n' Flax Talk


According to Womenfitness.net, grapefruits can actually peak weight loss! Eating a grapefruit or drinking 8 oz of grapefruit juice has been shown to block the enzymes involved in the fat-storage process. They also speed up our fat-burning process, so that we burn more calories throughout the day. 

Enjoy a grapefruit with breakfast like I do to make the most of their amazing benefits! 
To make your grapefruit breakfast side (or snack) even more wonderful, sprinkle it with some flax seed(comes in oil and whole form), which has endless benefits. Nutritionists have found that flax seed works wonders, from protecting you from illnesses to keeping you full longer and  helping you manage your weight by maintaining a healthy digestive system. So flax is a go in my eyes! 

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Tid Bit of the Day: Lower your portion sizes!

Today, when talking to my younger sister about following a healthy diet, I realized something. While my sister eats much “worse” than me when it comes to food, she has one very important thing down pat: controlling her portions. 
Basically, she eats whatever she wants but downsizes everything. She explained to me that she loads up of greens, whole grains and fruits, and that if her roommates are making brownies, ya, she’s going to have one, but just one
Then there’s me, eating healthy meals such as ground lean turkey burger and snacking on whole raw almonds. But all the while, I’m sitting here constantly envying those people that can eat whatever they want and not gain a pound. Well, now I know their secret. They never overdue it.

So, here are some tips for those of you who are a lot like me to help you control your portions:
1. Pre-package snacks in a plastic baggy with the recommended or reasonable portion size (14 baby carrots, 20 almonds, 1 sliced apple,etc.) This will help you have a healthy snack on the go and not worry about eating the whole box!
2. Portion out meats ahead of time: … Read More!

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Coffee no more?

So, as you may already know, I am obsessed with the newest trends in health and fitness, constantly flipping through articles and finding the newest health foods and recipes.

And for the most part, I consider myself a healthy girl: I don’t smoke, I drink a gallon of water a day and I eat 3 balanced meals and 2 healthy snacks per day. On top of that, I rarely allow myself to “cheat” and I exercise nearly every day. 
Healthy, right? Just about. I left out the fact that I consume a cup or two of coffee every morning after my breakfast. Yes, I’ve read that coffee really does have health benefits such as lowering chances of some cancers, and can be OK if you drink it in moderation, the real question is: do I really need it?

Before I came to college, I went 18 years without a trace of coffee in my body, so why now, 4 years later, do I rely on it each and every day? I realized the other day, I had become addicted, and I wasn’t happy with myself.
For the first time, I took a long look at myself and realized I wasn’t … Read More!

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"Thin Mint" Tummy Remedy

We all know that feeling when we eat just a little too much for dinner and feel like we’re going to explode. It may be because you over-did it at your favorite restaurant, or maybe you ate way too fast. But good news for you: there is relief.
My new favorite after-dinner bloat remedy is… (drum rolls)…: PEPPERMINT TEA.
Studies have shown that peppermint relieves bloating by calming digestive muscles.
Simply brew one cup of hot peppermint herbal tea in a tea kettle post-meal and vuala: bloating be gone.
My favorite brand is Bigelow’s Peppermint Herbal Tea (caffeine free), which also comes in lots of other yummy, soothing flavors like “Sweet Dreams” and “Chamomile.” … Read More!

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