Posted in Recipe on May 19, 2012
Ingredients
2 cups baby carrots
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Pinch of dried thyme
Pinch of kosher salt
Directions
Toss carrots with sesame seeds, thyme and kosher salt in a small bowl.
(Makes 3 Servings)
Posted in Video on May 18, 2012
Video: This exercise works your whole leg as well as your glutes.
Posted in Article on May 17, 2012
Going out and exercising in order to relax might sound a little strange to you but bear with me. It has been shown that exercising produces hormones that make your feel good. So it really makes sense to do certain exercises to help you feel better and get you feeling more relaxed.
If you think about it when you are uptight and anxious you are not relaxed you are the opposite, cranky and stressed out. Finding ways to relax is very important to your well being and will make a huge difference in your life.
One of the best exercises for relaxation is to go out walking. Your choice of walking route is important too. Obviously you will start to feel more relaxed if you walk in a park or by a lake, as opposed to walking on busy city streets.
Many experts recommend walking with a dog as therapy. Great if you have a dog but if not you could offer to volunteer at your local pet shelter and walk a dog. This provides you with a reason to go out walking and your new friend will enjoy your visits.
Walking in the fresh air gives you time to think and reflect about your day. As you walk concentrate on feeling the breeze on your face and take in the smells of the trees and plants. See if you can?t hear the birds chirping. All of these things will put a smile on your face and make you feel more relaxed almost immediately.
While walking you should concentrate on your breathing and take some nice deep breathes. As you?re walking pace increases try to think of nothing but your walking and the surrounding sounds. This walking meditation method has been shown to be a wonderful stress reliever.
Other forms of exercise that can help you feel more relaxed are Yoga, swimming, dancing and even going out for a bike ride. All of these activities put you into different surroundings which affect your mood, all for the better.
Music is a great way to relax and taking up a new dance routine is an excellent idea. You could do this at home or by joining a local dance class such as a Zumba class. As well this gets you mingling with other people and provides some light recreation after a hectic day. Why not start a new exercise routine and see if it doesn?t make a difference?
Posted in Recipe on May 16, 2012
Ingredients
1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups reduced fat baking mix (like Bisquick)
1 cup skim milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 egg
Directions
Combine cranberries with the powdered sugar. Let stand for 5-6 minutes. Combine Bisquick and remaining ingredients. Stir until moistened (will be lumpy). Stir in sugared cranberries. Pour into cooking oil sprayed muffin pans. Bake at 400 degrees F. for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Posted in Article on May 15, 2012
An obese teenager can feel like high school is some sort of punishment. The teenage years are difficult enough with puberty, acne, dating and peer pressure. But add being an obese teenager into the mix and it can make the teen years pretty miserable.
High school is hard. First of all, there’s the coursework to worry about. High school is usually a huge switch from grade school and middle school. Everything is more difficult, and the homework amount can be enormous. But if you’re an obese teenager, that’s probably not the thing you hate most about high school.
High school and the teen years are the years when kids are turning into adults. And these years don’t bring out the best in everyone. There are always those kids who enjoy bullying other kids. There’s name calling and sometimes it escalates to physical violence.
The targets of these bullying kids are often those who are perceived to be easy targets and weak. Unfortunately, obese kids are often chosen as someone who can be picked on.
When a teenager is constantly picked on, that can make going to school each day feel like a certain type of torture. It can ruin a kid’s motivation to do well in school and make good grades. When you’re scared or embarrassed constantly by bullies, worrying about a test or getting an A seems far less important by comparison.
Aside from the very obvious humiliation that can come from being picked on, called names and bullied, being an obese teenager can be painful in more subtle ways, too.
The high school years are usually when the tradition of school dances starts, like the homecoming dance and proms. An obese teenager might miss out on these fun activities. While not every overweight teen sits at home, some might be embarrassed to ask someone to go to these dances.
Being overweight or obese, because of the bullying or the disapproval that might be obvious from some classmates, can cause low self-esteem. This is why some overweight kids avoid social activities that other kids enjoy.
A heavy teen who wants to go might not get asked because others perceive them as not being good enough because of their weight. Some might be embarrassed at the idea of others knowing that they asked a fat person on a date.
High school is usually when it’s required for kids to change into uniforms for PE class. This requires kids to change their clothes in front of their classmates, something than obese kids might feel very uncomfortable doing.
Sadly, this can cause or escalate bullying. And when a kid who might have self-esteem issues already is taunted and teased about their sized while they’re undressed, it can only make any lack of self-confidence and self-esteem even worse.
Fortunately, the teen years are an ideal time to find a good eating plan and lose weight. It’s much easier for an obese teenager to lose weight and get in shape than it is for an older person to do so.
Posted in Article on May 14, 2012
For many people trying to eat healthy can be a challenge. Who doesn?t have a busy life, going to work and then coming home to take your children to various after school activities? No wonder people just eat and run and don?t pay that much attention to what they are eating.
Eventually though, your busy lifestyle will catch up with you. You will start to feel tired and maybe begin to get sick more often. But there is something that you can do about this. You can add a few natural supplements to your diet.
This could be in the form of a natural vitamin or as a natural breakfast or lunch type of supplement. These supplements can provide you with more energy and nutrients and give you enough fuel to get through the day.
You may even be using supplements and vitamins but are not getting enough benefits from them. This could be due to the ingredients in the products. Natural or organic supplements will have less chemicals and preservatives in them. The result is that they will provide your body with more valuable nutrition and your body will respond accordingly.
It is very true that the quality of your supplements matter, you wouldn?t run your car with low grade oil or bad gas would you? When purchasing a natural supplement whether in pill or powder form look at the list of ingredients and the instructions on how to take it. You can buy the best supplement in the world but if you don?t take it correctly you won?t receive the best benefits.
Some natural supplements are best taken on an empty stomach while others suggest that you eat a piece of fruit before taking them. Make sure you know how to take it, the proper serving size and how often the supplement can be safely used.
There are literally tons of natural supplements available on the market today. Some are meal replacements while others give you added calcium or protein. Body builders for example use natural supplements with added protein as this helps them build muscles more effectively.
Then of course there are natural supplements for weight loss. If you are not sure which supplements to choose think about the reason to wish to start using one? Is it to lose weight or maybe to just get better nutrition? If you have any major concerns then it is best to check with your family doctor before taking any natural supplements.
Posted in Video on May 13, 2012
Video: A fitness professional goes through a great ab workout you can do at the gym.
Posted in Video on May 12, 2012
Video: This series of exercises will workout your entire upper body.
Posted in Article on May 11, 2012
The American Heart Association has taken the time to compare quick weight loss to fad diets. This is quite helpful for the serious dieter seeking the best form of weight loss. Based on their findings they have been able to provide the information that is informative so a logical and critical decision can be made for dieting. The following is information from the AHA on different diets and their effects.
The Cabbage Soup Diet is said to undermine the health, cause physical discomfort in the abdominal regions such as gas and leads to a disappointment when using this diet.
Many quick weight loss diets claim to be endorsed or authorized by the AHA yet this is not true. The AHA recommends diets that are flexible in the food selection and stresses the importance of nutrient rich diets with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients essential to a healthy diet.
Many of the popular diets do not encourage physical activity or exercise. The AHA recommends walking 30 minutes at least three times a week for the physical activity that will promote weight loss. The lack of physical activity is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke.
Since the quick weight loss diets often change the eating habits of the person during the time of dieting but fail to teach how to create healthy eating habits that lead to prolonged weight management. The fact many lack this information leads the dieter to return to the old eating habits that caused the original weight gain and they will eventually gain back lost weight.
Many of the quick weight loss diets are based on myths about dieting instead of the current facts. AHA does not substantiate the concepts of fat-burning foods and food combining. They consider these concepts myths and suggest they be avoided when possible.
The only true weight loss diet includes a proper diet rich in grains, fruits, vegetables, fiber, low fat, and dairy products that is balanced and nutritional as well as physical activity. Many quick weight loss diets lack these elements so the AHA does not recommend using these diets.
The best way to lose weight is with a healthy diet that is balanced as well as adding physical activity as a regimen that not only provides a weight loss for the individuals but also increases their body’s level of health. The AHA has guidelines available on their website that list the right diets and physical activities to implement to lose weight effectively with lasting results. Education on the dieting is essential to creating a healthy life style and body. The AHA has support groups, diet planners, suggestions, tips, and other dieting information that will transform anyone’s life into a healthier and more productive life.
Posted in Video on May 10, 2012
Video: Upright barbell rows will help to strengthen your back, which is why it’s one of the best back exercises.
