Archive for April, 2010
Elliptical Machine
I first started using the Elliptical Machine after I was recovering from hurting my knees while running (soft and uneven ground- don’t recommend it). As you might have guessed, the Elliptical Machine is low impact, and easy on your knees. I thought of this machine as a temporary step while my knees were recovering, and found that I loved this machine and the workout I was getting.
Purpose
If you are looking for a great cardio workout, this is the machine for you. Within 3 minutes of using this machine, you can get up to your cardiovascular heart rate level and stay there for the duration of your workout. This machine will get your heart rate pumping, so it’s best if you slowly work your way up to either a more intense level and/or a longer workout. when I first went on this machine, I focused on doing short, but intesnse workouts. Once I finally got a heart rate monitor, I realized I was allowing myself to let my heart rate going higher than I should have. Not good. Be sure when you exercise you have a good heart rate monitor, and know your limits. Exercising is very healthy and good for you, but if you aren’t careful, you can hurt yourself too. Always consult with your doctor before starting an exercise program.
Benefits
Your lower body is mostly what gets worked out, but since your arms are on the handle bars, you get an upper body work out (think cross country skiing). With this full body workout, it gets your heart rate going, and calories are in turn getting burned. It burns quite a bit of calories actually. Be sure to increase your levels of intensity so that your body doesn’t get used to it, and still gives your body a workout. Start slowly, and depending on how your body is feeling, start increasing the intensity.
I have found success with this machine, but I would like to hear other people’s reviews and what they think about the ever so popular Elliptical Machine.
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Tags: burn calories, cardio, elliptical machine, exercise, good for your body, gym, Healthy, Lose Weight, low impact, review, success, toned muscle, Weight Loss
Spinach Pancakes by Dr. Praeger’s
These aren’t just any pancakes…these are perfect for Lunch and D
inner for someone who wants something fast and easy, healthy, and tastes good.
Nutrition
There are very few ingredients to this wonderful pancake, which is Spinach (of course!), Potatoes, Onions, Egg Whites, Oat Bran, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Arrowroot, Salt, All Natural Vegetable Gum, Garlic, and Black Pepper. So what are these pancakes missing? They are “missing” all of the bad stuff! These pancakes are not only low calorie, but they don’t have Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, Trans Fats, processed Sugar or Artificial Sweeteners.
Taste
I have good news, and possibly bad news. Good news…if you don’t like the taste of Spinach, you will love these pancakes because they really don’t taste like Spinach. Bad news…if you were hoping these Spinach Pancakes actually tasted like Spinach. They don’t taste like Spinach, sorry.
Either way, these pancakes taste Amazing. I was a little reluctant at first because I just didnt know what to expect from them. Yes, they are green, but they don’t taste like they should be. I ended up cooking more just because they tasted so great!
Preparation
The Spinach Pancakes come in a box, and they are each individually wrapped for freshness. The cooking part couldn’t be easier. Preheat your oven to broil, then cook at broil for about 8 minutes. That’s it.
Serving Size: 1 Pancake
Calories: 80
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Tags: all natural, arrowroot, artificial sweetener, black pepper, canola oil, cholesterol, dinner, Dr. Praeger's, easy meal, Egg Whites, garlic, Healthy, less than 100 calories, low calorie, lunch, no sugar, Nutrition, onion, pancakes, potatoe, salt, saturated fat, Spinach, Spinach Pancakes, sugar, taste great, trans fats, vegetable gum
Health Benefits of Honey
Honey is very good for you, but you must know that not all Honey is created equal. Before I go into the many Health Benefits of Honey, I want to first share with you several different types of Honey, so you can be sure you are only getting the best out there.
Different Types of Honey
Honey
Just because you are buying “Honey”, doesn’t mean it is truly “All Natural”. Most honey on today’s market is processed, leaving out all of the good stuff, which is the reason why you would want honey in the first place!
Commercial Honey (the typical Honey bear you see on store shelves) is treated with an intensive heating process that destroys the nutrients of Honey. Don’t always trust your Local Honey either, since many of them will use very little local honey, and then they will mix it with other commercial or off-shore (cheaper) brands of Honey- and yes, they can call it “Local”.
Raw Honey
Raw honey isn’t processed, but is minimally filtered. In it’s pure and raw state still in tact, you will be able to enjoy the maximum amount of honey’s natural antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and vital phytonutrients, where all the nutrients are still preserved.
With Raw Honey, you won’t get that perfect golden glow look of Honey, but you will get the enzymes that help you digest honey, which is something your body needs.
Raw Creamed Honey
If you want to buy Raw Creamed Honey (my favorite), just be sure that is is un-filtered and you will receive the same health benefits of regular Raw Honey.
Certified Organic Raw Honey
For Honey to be Certified Organic, the beehives must be miles away from dense population, industry, traffic congestion, and farm fieldstreated with chemicals and/or landfills. Bees have a natural 4 mile flying radius, so finding the land that can meet the strict requirements for Certified Organic Raw Honey can prove to be quite difficult. Yet, the Honey from the wild vegetation can create some of the best tasting Honey on the market.
Nutritional Benefits
Raw Honey is a source of simple carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Depending on which flowers the honeybees went to, the Honey itself may include…
Vitamins: Niacin, Riboflavin and Pantothenic Acid
Minerals: Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc
Raw Honey has a polyphenols, which act as an antioxidant.
Healing properties of Honey
Raw Honey is an oral antibacterial (polyphenols). Raw Honey has been used as a natural treatment for many things, including coughs, sore throats, and even healing infections and burns.
Children with diarrhea are usually given some kind of sugar solution to help rehydrate them, but others have found that if you use Raw Honey instead, the Honey kills the bacteria in the intenstines, and stops the diarrhea altogether.
There is a Raw Honey that is indigenous to New Zealand, and people have found that the Raw Honey taken daily (4 tablespoons) was able to reduce the symptoms of the stomach Ulcer. The Honey helps because it is able to kill the bacteria that causes the stomach ulcers in the first place.
Now that you see the Many Health and Healing Benefits of Honey, you now have plenty of reason to replace your Sugar with it in no time!
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Tags: antioxidant, antioxidants, beneficial, calcium, Certified Organic Raw Honey, Copper, Creamed Honey, enzymes, Healing, Healthy, honey, iron, Magnesium, Manganese, minerals, natural, Niacin, Organic, Organic Raw Honey, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, phytonutrients, polyphenols, potassium, Raw Honey, Riboflavin, vital phytonutrients, vitamins, Zinc
Hand Sanitizing Spray – Organic Eucalyptus by EO Products
My hands are so sensitive to the average hand sanitizer, and my hands would usually come out with dry, cracked, and sometimes even bleeding hands. Hmm…that can’t be good. Naturally, I went out looking for another (safer) alternative. At 62% Alcoholic (non-GMO), this Hand Sanitizing Spray is plant based, and is a great alternative to the chemically drenched competition out there.
I bought this Hand Sanitizing Spray, and to my luck, haven’t had a problem with sanitizing my hands since! It’s conveniently small and I usually carry this spray in my purse. If I need to clean my hands but don’t have soap and water nearby, I can spray this on and feel good that not only are my hands cleaner, but I am not going to hurt my hands either.
Nice.
Where to buy: Health Food Stores, or you can visit: eoproducts.com
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Tags: clean, convenient, hand sanitizer, healthier alternative, Organic, spray
Just because it’s “Free”…
When “free” can be a bad thing
Just because something may be given to you for “free”, it doesn’t mean you should have it!
Every week I am offered doughnuts, muffins, pizza, Chinese food – the works! And yes, it is all “free’ to me. At first, I would eat all the “free” food I could get, because it was “free”, and I just couldn’t say “No” to it! Since someone already bought the food, I didnt want it to go to waste, so why not just eat it…it’s a free meal! Save on groceries, perhaps?
Then it all finally hit me. I was eating unhealthy. Actually, I was eating really unhealthy on a regular basis, and I was gaining unnecessary weight.
The cost of “Free”
I finally realized that the cost of “free” wasn’t always worth it. Just because it didn’t cost me financially, it was costing me my health! I am starting to realize that it’s OK to say “No” to all the “free” food, and move on.
Be Prepared!
The Holidays are coming up, and we all know what that means, right? People gain an average of 5-10 pounds of fat during the Holiday Season (so I have read and heard). That is overindulgence if you ask me!
So, how does everyone gain all that excess weight in such a short amount of time?
Everyone will give you a reason as to why you should try their special cookies, cakes, pies, etc. Everyone will say how much you “have to try it!”. Guess what? You don’t have to try anything! OK, so don’t be a snob about it, but kindly tell the person “Thank you, but…I can’t have it”. If someone keeps urging you, tell them you can’t have X, Y, or Z. If they continue to insist, tell them that you will get a bad reaction if you eat whatever it is that they are offering you (If it’s unhealthy food, you might gain weight, right?!). If they continue to persist, they are obviously not respecting your wishes, and you need to move away from the conversation. Move on to other people whose primary focus isn’t on the food.
Again, just because it’s a family recipe, special occasion, or whatever the excuse may be – it doesn’t mean you have to give in to anything.
Think about it…
If you were deathly allergic to peanuts, and someone offered you something that contained peanuts, would you honestly eat it just to makesomeone else not feel bad? No! I take my health seriously, and I am sure you do too. Even thought I am not allergic…someone once offered me soda, and I politely declined their offer. That person insisted that I drink this soda. I told this person again that I don’t drink soda (well, I used to, but I haven’t for years now). I think this person might have been offended, but I am not going to lower my standards and risk my own health to make someone else feel better.
Be strong in your health beliefs, and stick to them – no matter what “free” desserts may come along your way!
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Tags: cakes, chinese food, Cookies, desserts, doughnut, excess food, Free, Healthy, holiday, holiday weight gain, Just Say No, muffin, pies, pizza, Skinny Tips & Quotes, soda, weight gain, Weight Loss
