I hate “Diets”

I hate “Diets” because it just seems to imply that someone is only exercising or eating healthy for a short period of time. Once they lose weight and reach their goal, they go back to their old habits!

This type of thinking only turns “diets” into “yo-yo dieting”, which means after all that effort and time you too to lose weight and learn great eating and exercise habits, you just gained back all your weight…and then some.

If you know what I am talking about first hand, I am sure you hate dieting too. You are in luck though, because I have some good news and…depending on how you look at it, maybe some bad news too.

Bad news first

I don’t think that it’s bad news, but for some it might be just that. The bad news is this: There is no magic diet pill or spell that will make your magically thin and healthy. Crazy, right? I feel like I might have just told someone that Candy Land doesn’t exist! hehe

You have to think of your eating habits and exercise routines as a part of your life. If what you are currently doing isn’t getting you to where you want to go, a temporary and short term fix won’t solve the problem for good. Maybe temporarily, but you don’t want a temporary fix because you will constantly have to worry about fixing a problem. You want to have a permanent fix. This involved a complete lifestyle adjustment and for some…and pretty big change in your life.

It may be a bit slower of a process to finally get to where you want to be. It may take time to find the healthy foods that you love to replace the old foods that didn’t do your body any good. It may take time to find and start a realistic workout routine you can keep up with and stay with (not the same machine, but the routine). By doing it this way, a lifestyle change, you will see long term results, which in the end, it’s something we are all after.

The Good news!

Your body will feel great! It’s amazing how much happier people seem to be when their body’s are functioning at their best because they are receiving the nutrients and exercise they need.

It’s not always about looking skinny/fit/slim…it’s all about being healthy and feeling good!

As always…it will be worth it. I’m here to cheer you on. You ready for this?

♥,

Twinkie

Tags: diet, dieting, eat right, exercise, fit, Fitness, Healthy, Nutrition, Skinny, SkinnyTwinkie, slim, Twinkie, Weight Loss, yo-yo diet, yo-yo dieting

Thanksgiving can be good for you…

Thanksgiving can either brake you or be quite beneficial for your body. It’s all about preparation. Here’s a couple of traditional foods that no Thanksgiving should be without.

Turkey

Great news, Turkey is not only low in fat (ok, without the skin anyways), but it is also high in B Vitamins, Potassium, Zinc, and Folic acid. So what’s so great about all of that? These wonderful nutrients are helpful in lowering blood cholesterol, protect against heart disease, and cancer. What else does Turkey do to help? Turkey also aids the immune system, nerve function and growth, and help regulate blood pressure.

Potato

High in Vitamin C, B-Complex, Potassium, Magnesium, and Calcium. As a result, potatoes are helpful with relieving high blood pressure and rheumatism, and helps boost the immune system. If you are trying to lose weight though, limit the potato intake.

Cranberry

Full of antioxidants, Calcium and other healing properties.  Research suggests that Cranberries can help with heart disease, helps to strengthen bones, can get rid of some types of stomach ulcers, heal urinary tract infections, and even helps as dental health. A lot of Cranberry products are loaded with sugar, so try to go the all natural route.

Yam

Yams are like a super veggie, with lots of vitamins and minerals that are very helpful to the body. Yams are a great source of Potassium, B Vitamins, Manganese, Fiber, Folic acid and healthy carbohydrates. If you want to reap the ultimate benefits of yams, I would suggest skipping the idea of “candied yams”. Adding the sugar to the yams will dilute the health benefits of the yam, so a great alternative is using a small amount of butter or coconut oil and a couple dashed of salt and pepper. No sugar needed to enjoy.

Pumpkin

High in Antioxidants (Carotenoids, Zeaxanthin and Lutein) and also high in Fiber, Iron, and Zinc. If you can find a Pumpkin Pie recipe without all the sugar, you will be all set!

Healthy Thanksgiving

As you can see, Thanksgiving can be very healthy for you. How you can ensure that Thanksgiving is a healthy meal for you, is to avoid sugar as much as possible. Another thing that you can do, is be sure that you eat until you are satisfied. Don’t just keep eating more and more just because food is there. That’s what leftovers is for! Don’t get so stuffed that you feel sick. If you do, you aren’t benefiting your body the way you should be.

Tags: Cranberry, Healthy, Nutrition, potato, potatoes, Pumpkin, Thanksgiving, Turkey, Weight Loss, Yam

Health Benefits of Pears

Pears are not only a delicious snack, but also very healthy and beneficial for your body.

Nutritional and Health Benefits

Pears have a wonderful cooling effect to them. If you should have a fever, having a pear may be helpful in reducing your fever. Some say to drink pear juice, but I personally try to stay away from fruit juices unless you make them yourself. Otherwise, fruit juices you buy tend to be very high in sugar- sometimes even more than soda.

Pears are an excellent source of fiber. The fiber in pears may help regulate bowel movements.

Pears are full of Vitamin C and Copper, making Pears very antioxidant rich, which helps with the immune system.

Pears are high in Vitamin B and Potassium. This is great because it is healthy for your heart and has beneficial effects on your overall blood pressure.

Pears have plenty of Pectin, which helps with digestion, and a natural cleanse of toxins in the body.

Snack

Another great reason to have this snack? Delicious and low in calories! Perfect for anyone who would like to lose or maintain their body weight.

Serving: 1 Pear

Calories: 75 or less -depending on size

Tags: antioxident, bowel movements, Cleanse, Copper, fever, fiber, Health, juice, low calorie, natural cleanse, Nutrition, Organic, pears, pectin, potassium, regular, snack, Toxins, viatmin C, vitamin B

Health Benefits of Agave Nectar

Agave Nectar is a wonderful Sugar Replacement!

Agave Nectar

Blue Agave Nectar is the most common species of Agave plants. If you buy Agave Nectar, chances are they are from the Blue Agave plants.

The two most common types of Agave nectar is either “Light”, “Amber”, or “Dark”.

The Light Agave Nectar has less heating and a more thorough filtration process, which makes a more mild and neutral flavored product. The Dark Agave Nectar is filtered less, and what’s left in the syrup allows for it to have a stronger taste to it, comparable to maple syrup.

The Darker the Agave Nectar, the less processed it is said to be. For me personally, I would rather have a product in its most raw and natural form.

Health Benefits

Agave Nectar has a low glycemic index. This allows for sweetness without the side effects of Sugar, such as an unhealthy blood sugar spike more commonly known as a “Sugar Rush”. This makes for Agave Nectar to be a much healthier alternative to processed sugars and artificial sweeteners, and can be used for those who are diabetic, or just trying to be healthier.

GLYCEMIC VALUES
Organic Agave Nectar 27
Fructose (fruit sugar) 32
Lactose (milk sugar) 65
Honey 83
High fructose corn syrup 89
Sucrose (sugar) 92
Glucose 137
Glucose tablets 146
Maltodextrin 150
Maltose 150

Source: BlueAgaveNectar.com

Agave plants have Saponins, which has anti-inflammatory, immune system-boosting properties, even anti-microbial capability. Agave plants also have Fructans in it, which is believed to help lower cholesterol. Agave plants also have Inulin, which is a carbohydrate that many scientists believe helps with weight loss.

Agave Nectar has also been proven to help with intestinal bacteria. Modern technology has confirmed that when using salt with Agave Nectar, it increases the anti-microbial property of the plant, which was originally used by the Aztecs for dressing wounds and using as a balm for skin infections.

So as you are trying to be healthier, find ways to add Agave Nectar in to your day-to-day diet. You will reap the many health benefits, and it will be a much better substitute for sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Tags: agave syrup, ageve nectar, amber, Anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, blue agave nectar, dark, Fructans, glycemic index, Healing, Healthy, immune system, inulin, light, Lose Weight, low glycemic, salt, saponins, Skinny, sugar replacement, sweetness, Weight Loss

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!

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