Evolution Of Mom Dancing (w/ Jimmy Fallon & Michelle Obama)

Healthy Lunchbox Ideas for Children

Are you worried that you're not providing your child(ren) with a nutritious lunch? Well worry no more with these healthy lunchbox ideas. Click here

150 Low Calorie Dinners for the Family: Under 500 Calories

You want to lose weight but you don't want your family to miss out on exciting meals. Nor do you want to have to make two separate meals each sitting.
Find tasty Low Calories Dinners here

What Cereal should we eat! - The Best & Worst Revealed

What cereal do you opt for when you're out shopping? Is your cupboard filled with cereal that your children have chosen - usually sugar-filled or so you choose that which you feel is healthy?
Well, some cereals that you think are healthy may actually have a higher salt, sugar or fat content than you realised.
The following article (click on link) gives you the lowdown on The Best and Worst Cereals.

Want to be a Morning Exerciser?

I used to enjoy my morning exercise routine...several months ago!! I told myself that 'when it gets lighter earlier, I will start exercising early in the morning again'. Okkayyy...well tomorrow it will be October and it's not very light when I wake up in the mornings anymore. It seems I couldn't quite muster up enough will power to get up at the crack of dawn to exercise before doing the morning school routine.
I'd rather not wait till next Summer to attempt to rise early to exercise - I would like to start much sooner than that. If I could do it last year, then I can do it again.
I just came across an article (click and read) 7 Steps To Become a Morning Exerciser.
If you know of any other tips to help you become a morning exerciser please leave a comment.

What to wear to hide your tummy

While you're making steps to lose weight, you may need a little helping hand to hide a tummy bulge.
I've just come across this great article with tips that will make you look more at the clothes you wear, and should give you increased body confidence when you're out and about. Click on the link below.
http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/wellbeing/galleries/30945/How-to-dress-to-hide-a-wobbly-tummy/3

How To Lose Weight And Avoid Yo-Yo Dieting

by guest author Natalie Myhalntska

Having a large experience in strict diets, sport and different weight loss techniques I discovered the effective formula which helps lose weight and keep the achieved result for a long period of time.
This formula contains the following principles:
1. Don't become addicted to strict diets. Try to vary food in your daily ration and make it more balanced. Though strict diet may guarantee a quick weight loss, such food limitations are usually a short-term solution only. In most cases these restrictions lead to vitamin deficiency, fatigue and loss of muscle. Less muscle and muscle tone means a slower metabolism and consequently fewer calories burned 24 hours-a-day. Moreover, strict diet doesn't teach you how to acquire health habits and improve your lifestyle. It works like self-delusion: you rely on the quickly achieved result and return to the former lifestyle. Ultimately after going off an extreme diet you gain the weight lost back within a year or less.
In order to avoid Yo Yo Dieting i strongly recommend to refuse from all those radical diets and create your own plan of healthy lifestyle which can be observed during a long-time period and which makes you lose weight gradually. The more slowly you lose weight the higher probability you will not gain it back.
2. A high consumption of virgin oil, vegetables and fruits, fish, milk and cheese, nuts etc. not only enriches your daily ration with all indispensable vitamins and elements but also helps reduce weight and prevent many diseases.
Habitants of Mediterranean countries are guided by the principle to consume the mentioned products everyday. People bound to Mediterranean Diet have a 70% more of expectancy of life and a 80% of better quality of life, supposing they do not smoke. Mediterranean Diet prevents stroke, heart attack, metabolic syndrome, lung diseases, Parkinson, Alzheimer and helps keep the bone mass in elderly people.
3. Eat frequently but reduce portion sizes. Mini meals make your blood sugar stay at normal level and it guarantees that you will never get too hungry and lose control of your portion intake. I advice you to eat salad before lunch or dinner and it will help curb appetite and give you a sense of satiety sooner.
4. Consume dairy products
Milk is a good source of protein, zinc, B vitamins and calcium. The recent studies show that calcium is not only a bone-building element but it also helps lose weight. Due to the research those who consumed 3 servings of low-fat dairy products a day lost more than 10% of their body weight. Those who took calcium supplements or those who had little calcium in their diet lost only 6% of their body weight.
5. Take enough sleep. If you don't get enough hours of sleep your metabolism will not function properly and it may cause hormone imbalance. Hormone ghrelin increases hunger, and when you are sleep-deprived, you have more ghrelin. Leptin decreases hunger, but when you are sleep-deprived, you have less leptin. Consequently you eat more plus your metabolism slows and you gain more weight.
6. Learn to manage stress. When you are under stress your body produces adrenalin and cortisol - 2 stress hormones which may affect your weight. Cortisol causes elevated blood sugar levels, which also trigger the release of insulin, causing the body to store fat, instead of burning protein. Adrenalin also increases sugar levels in the blood and it leads to glucose/insulin imbalance which strengthen your appetite.
7. Combine cardio and strength training. Cardio exercises boost metabolism, elevate serotonin levels in the brain and make your body burn calories faster. Strength training can help enhance your muscle mass and develop strong bones. As you gain muscle, your body gains a bigger "engine" to burn calories more efficiently.
8. Increase quality protein intake which helps improve muscle function and prevent muscle loss during weight loss. Proteins also lower blood levels of triglycerides which helps leptin get into your brain easier and therefore you feel full on fewer calories.
9. Drink an adequate amount of water. The process of burning calories requires sufficient supply of water otherwise dehydration will slow down the fat-burning process. If you drink water before every meal you will feel full sooner and therefore u become satisfied with less amount of calories.
10. Always remind yourself: "I can. I'm strong". Weight loss programme requires constant efforts and determination therefore any obstacle or failure shouldn't discourage or distract you from your main goal - to get perfect and seductive body.

http://magazine-mn.com/ Magazine MN (beauty, health, business, career, success, leadership, marketing)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natalie_Myhalnytska

Whitney Houston Dies - The Passing of a legend

I couldn't let the day pass without mentioning Whitney Houston, regardless of the main content of my blog.
I was shocked, like many others when I heard of the death of Whitney Houston. I, and many of her fans I'm sure, were happy to see her two years ago as she made her steps towards her career comeback. I had bought her last album and absolutely loved playing track seven, I Didn't Know My Own Strength - a track that you just knew she sang from her heart and soul. A track that I'm sure a lot of listeners could relate to.

She was The Voice. Her music and voice will always be remembered. I'll always remember being in High School and dancing around the room to her first track, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and watching the colourful video that accompanied the track.

My condolences go out to her daughter, Bobbi Christina and all her family.

Part 2: Have You Got the Motivation to Exercise?

Need the motivation to exercise? Take a look at these articles.

31 Ways to Motivate Yourself to exercise

Motivation to exercise tips

The Secrets of Exercise Motivation

Part 1: Motivation & A New Year

I hope everyone has enjoyed the start of the New Year. Are you sticking to your resolutions?
If one of your resolutions was to exercise more, how have you been at sticking to this? With this cold weather I know how difficult it can be to motivate yourself to exercise. I should know!The early morning workouts I did last year have so far become non-existent.

Not exercising enough has likely been the contributing factor to why I haven't been blogging over the last two months. Or maybe not blogging has contributed to my not exercising enough! Recording my fat-burning journey and mentioning exercise and nutrition on this blog has been very helpful to my trim-down goal. It seems that keeping a record or a journal of your exercise/weight loss goal can keep you on the right path.

I have been doing a few minutes of stretching in the morning, plus there's all the walking I do each day when taking my DDs to and from school. But its time to get back on that path and do more. Just writing this has now spurred me on to exercise.
Are you keeping a record or journal of your exercise/weight loss goal?

A Diabetic Christmas Dinner

Are you diabetic or having diabetic guests over for Christmas Dinner? Have a look at these diabetic recipes and tips.

Diabetic Christmas Food

Diabetic Christmas Recipes

Diabetic Christmas Recipes

Diabetic Christmas Dinner Recipes

Diabetic Christmas Recipes A very good site packed full of information for diabetic people.

Enjoy your Christmas!


I've recently written posts on A vegetarian Christmas Dinner and A Healthy Christmas Dinner,

A Healthy Christmas Dinner

You want to enjoy your Christmas meal but you don't want to spoil your weight loss goal that you have stuck to for the past few days/weeks/months. Have a look at these dishes and recipes and add them to your Christmas. Click on the titles.

Stuffed Cranberry Roast Turkey

 

Healthy Christmas and Recipes

Healthy Christmas Recipes

Healthy Christmas Recipes & Tips

Healthy Christmas Dinner Menu

Healthy Christmas Recipes

How to cut 500kcal from your Christmas Dinner

Enjoy your Christmas Dinner!

Ginger Cake

Make Your Own Salad Dressings

OK, so you want to eat more healthily so you start eating salads with or in place of your usual meals. The only problem is, you're adding salad dressings that are packed with calories, fat and salt. Use these tips to make yor own salad dressings. Click here

Get Kelly Rowlands Sexy Abs



Surely you've seen Kelly Rowlands abs on the X Factor or in her music videos! Well if you want a stomach like hers then check out this video. Click here
.

My Christmas weakness!



My Christmas weakness has got to be mince pies. I love 'em. Especially with Ambrosia custard. This Christmas weakness usually begins late October when my main supermarket starts stocking them. I mus say though, I have consumed less this year than last year and with a few days to go before Christmas, the cupboard has been bare of mince pies for at least a week now. I am eating them in moderation, while still thinking of the calories...do they do low-calorie mince pies? With all the walking that I do, I know I am burning off some of those consumed calories. I'm sure I'll have a couple on Christmas Day, while watching Downton Abbey but then that's it...Christmas will be over. And it will be back to my Fighting Fit Fighting Fat Workout DVD.

What's your Christmas food or drink weakness? 

A Vegetarian Christmas Dinner

Are you preparing a Christmas meal for a vegetarian? Well hold off on preparing a nut roast or pasta and sauce dish! There are more exciting dishes to prepare that a vegetarian would appreciate you for preparing. Check out these websites for ideas and recipes of Christmas dishes, that include appetisers, soups, main meals, side dishes and desserts. Click on the headings.

 The Veggie Table

BBC Good Food

Vegetarian Christmas Recipes

Vegetarian Christmas Recipes 2

The Twelve Days of Christmas - The Vegetarian Society

Vegetarian & Vegan Christmas Recipes

Channel 4 Christmas Vegetarian Recipes

Chef In You Vegetarian Christmas Recipes

Jamie Oliver Vegetarian Recipes

Vegan Christmas Recipes

Enjoy!

Polenta & Goat's Cheese Stack



British Women are the 'Fattest in Europe'

The European Commission has released figures that reveal British women to be the 'fattest in Europe'. Read the rest of the article here. 

Help! This Biscuit Lover wants to Lose Weight!

Do you like a biscuit...or two with your cup of tea (or coffee)? I sure do. But it's always a naughty but nice feeling when I bite into one.
I came across an article that gives you the worst biscuits to eat if you're trying to trim your weight, number 20 being the worst.

20. Tesco All Butter Shortbread Fingers - the worst for saturated fat.
19.   Fox's Crunch Creams - one of the worst for saturated fat plus there's a heaped teaspoon of sugar in each biscuit.
18. Cadbury Crunchie Bisuit - The worst for sugar content; one of the highest bisuits for fat content.
17. Jammy Dodgers - has more than a heaped sugar in each; there's no real raspberry in the centre.
16. Fox's Viennese - Contains the highest fat content in a chocolate biscuit; contains hydrogenated vegetable oil - not good!
15. McVitie's Milk Chocolate Digestive -  Contains twice as much sugar as a plain digestive.
14. Cadbury Chocolate Rich Tea - Contains twice the amount of sugar AND twice the number of calories as a McVities plain Rich Tea.
13. McVities Chocolate Hobnobs - Compared to plain hobnobs they have seven times the amount of saturated fat AND nearly twice the amount of sugar.
12. Tesco Value Bourbon Creams - The cream centre has almost 10% of your daily intake of saturated fat.
11. Crawfords Custard Creams - Contains more fat, more saturated fats and more sugar than Asda's smartprice brand.
10. Asda Smartprice Custard Creams - Contains less calories and sugar but has a high saturated fat content (as with all creamy centre biscuits).
9. Fox's Crinkles Coconut - High in sugar and saturated fats.
8. Maryland Chocolate Chip Cookies - Only 57 calories per cookie, but eating two or three is equivalent in saturated fat content as eating a two-fingered Kit Kat!
7. McVitie's Jaffa Cakes - Only 46 calories per biscuit AND contains 1g of fat, BUT is high in sugar.
6. Tesco Value  Ginger Nuts -  Only 46 calories and 2g of fat per biscuit; is a healthy biscuit to choose - contains approx. one-tenth of your iron daily allowance.
5. McVitie's Ginger Nuts - Contains slightly less fat than a Tesco Value Ginger Nut.
4. Fox's Malted Milk - 43 calories and 1.9g of fat; high malt and milk content; low sugar and saturated fat content.
3. McVitie's Digestive - A great source of fibre because of the wholewheat content. This brand contains a lower saturated fat content than other digestive brands.
2. McVitie's Oaty HobNobs - 67 calories and 1.3 g of fat; very good for fibre - three biscuits gives you 10% of your daily allowance; gives a steady release of energy; high sugar content.



The Best Biscuit

1. McVitie's Rich Tea - Only 38 calories; only 1.3g of fat; They're made with vegetable oil so are very low in saturated fat.



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A Little Bit Makes A Lot of Difference!

You keep telling yourself that you must exercise. You keep beating up on yourself when you haven't exercised. You keep telling yourself that you haven't got the time to exercise. Perhaps it's time to stop calling it 'exercise'.
The word sounds like such a chore...and who likes doing chores. It's something you do because you have to, not because you enjoy it. You want to get it out of the way, and subconsciously you're clock-watching, waiting for it to be over.
If you're trying to lose weight, don't exercise...do fat-burning (activities). This is what I've been doing for the last four weeks. As much as I love doing Tae Bo and Harvey's Fighting Fit Fighting Fat DVDs, I want to keep myself physically active, as much as possible, each day.
It doesn't have to be something requiring you to change into workout gear. There are lots of fat-burning activities you can do per day/per week, that will contribute to you trimming down your weight. Recently, I've done the following:

• Putting on a children's CD and dancing around the living room with my two young DDs
• Putting on my salsa/merengue CDs and doing salsa dancing/zumba-like fitness, while cooking, cleaning, tidying up.
• Brushing up, instead of vacuuming. I've found brushing a carpet requires more energy than vacuuming. I've incorporated waist twists for even more fat-burn.
• My own armlifts - no, not using weights...but my three year old daughter! This started by chance, when I lifted my daughter into the air and put her back down...and she wanted me to do it again...and again...and again...and again...It's now a regular in our household. I'm not complaining!
• Lifting up both my DDs on either side of me and being a human see-saw! This they enjoy!
• Being a lover of Strictly Come Dancing, who would love to learn the 'old fashioned' dances, I like to pick up either of my daughters, and dance the foxtrot..or the tango...and the waltz, and waltz around the room. They love it! My DDs sure aren't light (at 3 and 5), so I'm certainly developing some muscles in my arms when I lift them!
• Occasionally walking back from school after taking first my eldest, then my youngest(in the afternoon). 'Power walking' to school to pick them up. It's about a twenty-five minute walk to school, but I often get there in fifteen minutes!Yee har!
• Walking up and down the stairs at home, as much as possible per day.

I've been noticing the difference too - I'm looking a little trimmer, and have had a few comments from people too, so I guess I must be doing something right. I've also been changing how I eat...but I'll leave that for another blog post.
A little bit really does make a difference, and it hasn't felt like a chore at all.