 Guest Author: Samantha Hua, Certified Holistic Health Coach at Happy Food Losing weight is fun!!! Really! It has to be--there are no other options. If you can't sustain something forever, it will never last. I can sustain having fun forever, but I can't sustain counting calories, measuring my food, starving myself then binging, doing all the things I hate at the gym, pushing my body in a way that bores me, and self-loathing my body in the mirror. Can you relate to any of these? Weight lose HAS to be fun and pleasurable or you will never succeed in the long run. What activities did you enjoy as a kid? Do it! I am seriously wimpy at the gym (I last 15 minutes), but I can play 5 hours of beach volleyball. If you love the gym, that's great. If you don't, what sport, activity, or dance do you enjoy? Another way to really succeed at weight lose is to be happy....having fun really is THE key. Not only does it reduce emotional eating, but it's a physiological response. When happy and relax, we turn on our parasympathetic system and our digestion/metabolism functions much more efficiently.  ABOUT the AUTHOR: Samantha Hua has been involved in fitness and healthy eating since 1992. With a bachelor degree in biology, she spent the first part of her career focusing on research and improving communities by starting community gardens, nutritional education, and supporting those in Africa, Latin America, and the US. She then became AADP certificated as a Health Coach at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition through the State University of New York. For more information or support please visit http://happyfoodhealth.com.  We all look at celebrities, magazine models, talk show hosts and think "I wish I looked like that". The reality is you can! Being fit and healthy takes dedication and essentially requires making it part of your life style. I have always been a "Health Nut" and "Gym Rat", it is a way of life for me. I spend up to 6 hours a week working out, countless time preparing meals from scratch,making daily decisions like skipping that yummy cupcakes someone brought into the office and the list goes on. One of my favorite motivational quotes is "Nothing is Impossible, the word itself says I'm Possible". I truly believe you can be who/whatever you want to in life and physically look anyway you desire all you need to do is BELIEVE! A healthy diet and life style begins with learning how to “eat smart”; it’s not just what you eat, but how you eat. Learning the habits of healthy eating and physical exercise can boost your energy, sharpen your memory and stabilize your mood. Here is a list of tips for living a healthy and fit life style.
by Kerrie Stevenson, MET-Rx We are inundated with scores of supplements and plans suggesting when and how much to eat. Remember that food provides direct and vital nutrients to your body. Energy keeps us active and provides power to complete our daily activities. Without energy, our bodies are like cars without gas, plants without oxygen or the Earth without Sun. No matter what activities we endure throughout the day, we all need good sources of energy to keep us going. Energy fuels our tank. Our main source of energy is food. Breakfast is the meal that sets you up for the day. It replenishes your body's energy supply after a night's fast and provides the energy needed to stay physically and mentally alert. Breakfast enhances learning and physical performance. Without breakfast, your body runs on empty. Studies have shown that kids who eat breakfast concentrate better, are more creative and behave better - this applies to adults as well. IRON: Iron-deficiency anemia is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in North America. Iron is essential for producing hemoglobin, the main component of red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen to your body's cells, where it is used to produce energy and perform essential metabolic functions. If your iron stores are low, your red blood cells can't supply as much oxygen to the cells. The consequences of iron deficiency are fatigue, low energy and difficulty concentrating. The best food sources are red meats, organ meats, iron-fortified cereal products and whole-grain or enriched breads, dried fruits, green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds, and blackstrap molasses. CARBS: Carbohydrates found in breads, grains, cereals, fruits, vegetables and sweets are digested and end up as the simple sugars glucose and fructose. These carbs provide fuel for your brain, muscles and other body tissues. Complex carbohydrates in whole-grain breads and cereals, lentils, legumes and other starchy vegetables are the fuel of choice since they are digested gradually and serve as a steady fuel supply for body and brain. In addition, they provide many important vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals to keep your body well-nourished. Foods do the body good! Here is a list of energy foods that can easily be integrated into your daily diet. High-energy foods supply your body with the additional energy needed to get through the day.  Apples provide the necessary fiber to maintain a healthy bowel, while apple pectin, retrieved from the apple's peel, supports overall wellness. The natural fiber in apple pectin promotes intestinal health. Supplement with apple pectin to help cleanse and regulate digestion.  Apricots have been traditionally used as an aphrodisiac. Apricots contain B vitamins, which may contribute to their traditional benefits.  Bananas contain a good amount of fiber. Fiber helps get rid of toxic substances contained in our bodies. The banana helps reject impurities and provides potassium. Potassium helps maintain normal muscle function and aids the nervous system  Cheese contains calcium, which is essential for bone health. Calcium is also involved in muscle and nerve function.  Eggplants are ideal to eat about one hour before your daily sports activity. Antioxidants provided by eggplants help fight exercise-induced free radicals. This vegetable also contains carotenoids, which aid in overall wellness.  Grapefruit is known to support overall health. A wonderful energy food, grapefruits are also popular with dieters, while providing high energy.  Green Tea is full of polyphenols, which keep the body strong and energized. Green Tea also supports breast health.  Orange juice provides extra energy along with a complete series of vitamins. Vitamin C can support your immune system for overall health and vitality. But, too much Vitamin C can be acidic to your body, so drink these juices in moderation. Oranges are also beneficial during times of seasonal change.  Tuna fish is great for people with low intakes of Vitamin B-12, which is needed for red blood cell production. Tuna is rich in Omega 3, a substance that helps both body and mind. The protein in tuna also supports lean muscle, so don't avoid it if you are performing regular sports activities.  Yogurt is full of B vitamins, which help your body convert other nutrients into energy. However, you should choose low-fat or non-fat varieties. Mix yogurt with nuts for a healthy energy snack. Probiotics in yogurt can also support immune health. Probiotics support your digestive health and wellness. Get the most out of any balanced nutrition plan with Probiotics. In addition, kidney beans, lentils, baked beans and many others also provide great sources of energy for your body. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are a great source of energy as well. So there you have it, an easy-to-follow list of foods that can help your body be more energetic throughout the day. If you incorporate regular physical activity into your daily routine, adding an extra intake of energy foods to your diet is essential. If you're always on the go, you need to maximize your intake of energy foods, keeping your fat intake under control. Enjoy! SOURCE: BODYBUILDING.COM | Meet Jennifer!
Welcome Fitness Fanatics! My name is Jennifer Butler, Marketing Guru by trade, driven by a passion for Health and Fitness!  
ArchivesMay 2012 CategoriesAll |
RSS Feed