Make your Posture Perfect

Posture is a very important aspect of our daily lives often fogotten about. Many different muscle and joint problems can be attributed to sitting up straight. Check out this great article with tons of tips on how to make your posture perfect!

Crash Dieting

Dieting is a huge issue for thousands of women across the world. The most popular of all the odd tricks and techniques, is the crash diet.

For anyone who has ever been in the situation of "needing" to drop pounds fast before that special event, crash dieting has probably crossed your mind. However, doctors and nutritionists continue to find just how dangerous crash dieting can be.

Crash dieting causes a slew of problems for those who turn to it as a last resort. That type of dieting encourages women to cut extreme corners and often fails to include all the necessary nutrients.

Typical results of crash dieting include a weeks worth of a distinct loss, followed by yo-yoing. This is often because the weight lost was not real weight, but water weight, which fluctuates normally. However, most dangerous are the nutritional and mental health aspects to crash dieting.

Loosing your love handles for next week's high school reunion is just not possible. Turning to dangerous methods of weight loss only put your body at danger for future complications, as well as challenge the stability of your mental heath as well.

If you're interested in dieting, you should be interested in it as a health benefit, not particularly to renew yourself for an event to show off to others. Learn to be proud of who you are, which includes making smart lifestyle changes and taking care of your body responsibly.

Slow Food

Agreed, the name doesn’t thrill me either. When I got this in an email from my mom, I was at first concerned with who was keeping my food from me. However, that’s the point.

We’re a high speed society. Sadly, the essentials (proper diet/sleep/exercise) can be quickly skimmed or looked over to keep up with the rest of our hectic lives.

The concept of Slow Food tries to re-encourage savoring meals with friends and loved ones, while consuming quality foods. The name, cleverly, comes from its evil cousin- Fast Food.

If there is any reason to slow down in your day, food is a great start. Dinner time without a time constraint is beneficial to the entire family. Catch up with each other and enjoy the smells and tastes of good food instead of wolfing down a microwaved meal. Better yet- cook WITH each other. Make cooking a learning opportunity for children, to encourage them to pick up healthy habits. If you’re single, try setting time aside to cook as a stress reliever. Make yourself something fantastic, even if there’s no occasion.

More so, Slow Food encourages you to pay attention to food. What products are you endorsing by mindlessly buying them? Do you encourage the continued production of products that harm animals or use dangerous chemicals? Are producers compensated fairly for their work?

Be mindful of what you buy and consume. Taking time out to pay closer attention to our food, preparing it and enjoying it is a great baby step to distress and slowing down your day.

Low Carb vs. Low Fat diets

Here’s a great article discussing the differences in two popular diets for those interested.

Fat Free Fibs?

My second year of college marked a monumental step in my life- I started grocery shopping for myself. Coming from a family who has always been heath conscious and being custom to dinners just showing up on the table, this point in your life is an eye-opening one for anyone.

After putting on my share of the freshman 15 from cafeteria food, I did my best to go back to what I was use to- real fruits and vegetables, and controlling what I put into preparing dinner.

This year, as I re-start my promise to eat right (and less boxed macaroni and cheese), I have tried to stick to the basics I grew up on, plus some.

Labels selling fat free and low fat are often a draw for those looking to eat healthier. However, as this article explains, these promising terms aren't always truthful.

In reality, smart shoppers should be aware of a few other key numbers. First, is the number of calories. Eating to the correct number of calories in a day is your first step to a healthy diet. Next, compare the calories to serving size. If you typically eat a whole jar of pickles in one sitting, you’re most likely eating multiple servings at once. The low calorie jar you just bought is now doing nothing for you if you don’t obey the serving size.

This is harder said than done, many of us eat more than a serving size recommends, so keep that in mind and find products with serving sizes closest to what you consume with low calories.

While heading to the grocery store, make sure you bring in your rosy colored glasses. Don’t be swayed to throw promising products into your cart without making an educated decision based on the back nutrition panel!

Exercising to Harm

Picture this- It’s January 2^nd, you head to the gym for a typical workout, and it’s packed. Besides the New Years resolution crowd, you witness that just about everyone is going to town on every machine.

I’m no stranger to this either. When I slip on my workout routine, I’m more tempted to go in and go crazy, promising myself I’ll run many miles over my usual limit (which usually results in falling short, and exhausted).

We are all victim to working out too hard now and then. This article does a great job of setting some guidelines to keep in mind when pushing yourself during workouts.

A specific note from the article that I thought were great was the advice on weight lifting. I hope none of you ladies find that guy at the gym with the cutout shirt making horrendous moans while lifting one rep of twice his body weight. Working your muscles like the typical male gym rat is extremely dangerous.

The article points out in many occasions that even if you feel like you could do more, run to the point of no breath, do a few reps with a weight much too heavy, consider what you can do often- run at a slower pace longer, lift lighter weights for more reps and with correct technique.

Plus- check out my post on burst exercising. The value of working out in 15 minute increments proves to be valid!

READERS:

After about a month of blogging, I’m curious to get some response from readers!

What posts have you found most informative? What other ones have you disliked?

What would you like to see more of? Are you interested in seeing a consistent weekly feature on one subject/experience story/highlights from other blogs and articles?

I’m always looking to improve asizableapple, feedback is always welcome and taken into consideration. Please comment on this post or email me at asizableapple@gmail.com.

Also- THANK YOU to all of my readers! You have made posting a joy! Please continue to let your friends and family know about the site! J

Self Defense

Every month I receive a handful of chain emails from my mother about the latest predator alert.

NEW SCAM! IF YOU’RE A WOMAN, DO NOT WAIT OUTSIDE YOUR CAR WHILE YOU PUMP GAS!

(Does anyone find it funny how next month’s scam is warning you to not wait INSIDE your car while you pump either?)

With all the conflicting messages and warnings out for women, you may think you’re not safe to ever leave the house.

In reality, you need to know how to defend yourself, and how to omit confidence. The basic safety rules will always apply- never walk alone at night (especially in an unfamiliar area), holding your purse in front of you, not behind.

Walking confidently and aware of your surroundings can only protect you so much. I highly recommend taking a basic self defense class. Most karate places, heath clubs and YMCAs offer specialized classes only for women.

Knowing the basic skills- how to take control over an attacker, or that your elbow is the strongest part of your body, will be more helpful than any chain letter, tv story, or haunted tale.

Sleep Deprived!

Sleep deprivation is a common issue faced by millions of people around the globe. The fast pace culture we’ve grown accustom to allows little time for shuteye and demands stretching hours in the day to get everything in.

Research and doctors say adults should be getting 8-9 hours of sleep per night, but for many of us, this number is unattainable. In fact, most of us have trained our bodies to get by on smaller quantities of sleep.

The repercussions of skimping out on sleep can be extremely hazardous though. Between the health problems that can form (weakened immune system, increase in body fat), falling asleep on the road, lack of concentration and even hallucinating are all extremely dangerous problems that are often over looked.

Once you have an understanding of how much sleep you need to function in a healthy manner, you’re set. Make sure you are allowing yourself this time every night. By jeopardizing your rest at night, the following day and even days after can be negatively effected.

More so, I’ve heard reports that catching up on sleep is actually impossible, as you are not able to add it to the night prior.

Make sure to recognize and respond to some symptoms of sleep deprivation. If your eye constantly twitches, if you constantly are falling asleep immediately and the most reliable sign- heavy eyelids, odds are you are in need of catching up on Zzz-s.

How many hours per sleep do you normally get in relation to what doctors recommend? Do you function well on this? Do you feel the need to make up for lost hours during weekends?

Why Workout?

Why do you workout? What type of routine do you have? Is it set in stone and do you abide by it through the week? Do you have any room for change or alteration?

We all have our own reasons for working out. Between weight loss, toning, or just general health and wellness, women are flocking to gyms, handing their credit cards over for the newest home machines, and hiring the best looking male physical trainers the world has to offer.

With fall in swing, it becomes harder to find time to make use of your memberships and let’s face it, after a long day, do you really want to pull out the thigh-master from under the bed?

This fun article gives some great advice for home routines, and catering a program to work for you.

Working out regularly is vital to our health. It gives off great feel good endorphins afterwards too. Even if you are pressed for time, see if you can find 15/30 minutes to spare throughout your day on a stationary bike, lifting some light weights, or doing some relaxing stretches before bed.

Morning Starts-

I can't lie, breakfast is not a must have meal for me. I wake up at different times during the week and depending on when I need to be out the door, there may not be time to even grab something quick (or I realize I have nothing to grab!).

But, I've found that the rest of my day tends to directly relate to my morning routine. If I'm too busy to take care of my body before I leave the house, I'm more prone to say- Oh, it's just ONE bag of chips at the convenience store in the afternoon. Most of the time, my days start and end with less than 10/15 minutes here or there for lunch and dinner.

When I do have some time on my hands, I'm thinking about ways I can get more done, and very rarely spend the time to think about what I should do to take care of myself. This style is the norm for far too many women. There are some great alternatives to falling in the hands of junk during the day (packing healthy snacks to carry with you throughout the day), but how many of us follow them?

When I start my morning off right, taking my time with a good breakfast and a magazine, I feel better prepared for the day and usually as a result, make much better choices later on.

What is your morning schedule like? Do you have a set routine or do you fly by the seat of your pants on different days?

Product Promises

From diet pills to self esteem boosting cassette tapes, almost every product is sold with a promise of its benefits. There are pills that promise to enlarge your breast size, and workout tapes that flash pictures of skinny women (with tiny print that reads- not typical results), that say- "this can work for you too!"

Advertisers are having a field day in the health and fitness department. No matter how confident we are as women, there's always a few spots we wouldn't mind tweaking or toning. Advertisers are feeding of those of us who cave to these intensive ads. Using real life testimonies, that don't show the average results, to sway us to throw our credit cards in.

Couldn't there be something more useful in tv? Printed in magazines? Sadly, no one wants to see an ad for a product that tries to motivate you to go to the gym and eat right when there's a LOSE 20 LBS A WEEK! ad next door. Why do these "promising" products thrive? We're a culture of short-cuts and gimmes. How can we get our society to believe the truth- hard work and determination will accomplish anything?

Why Eat Breakfast?

It's been said many times over, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But why? What's the big deal? It's tough to fit preparing a meal in a busy morning when you're trying to book it out the door. But this article in one of my favorite blogs brings up the ever long issue.

When you do a little research, the subject of skipping breakfast sounds valuable. Skipping a meal in the morning forces your body to live off what you ate before you go to bed. For most of us, that can go on 12+ hours without food. You need to fuel your brain to walk, talk and think from the glucose breakfast brings.

Breakfast is also a great way to get in your nutrients for the day. Skippers may find it hard to make up for missing 1/3 of your major opportunities for vitamins and minerals.

And the age old myth about skipping breakfast helping lose weight? Wrong! Eating a well balanced breakfast actually helps keep your metabolism in check. Refusing to fuel your body after hours of sleep can actually lead to over-eating later on in the day.

So, even if it's just a bottle of juice, fruit and a granola bar, give yourself the chance to start each day on the right foot with breakfast!

Menstrual Pain

Menstrual pain can be an unwelcome part of any woman’s month. Often we are too busy to be bogged down with the intense pain that can come unexpectedly. But, there are ways to deal with the pain quickly to get back to feeling yourself.

Using a heating pad, hot water bottles, or taking a hot bath can really ease up extreme cramping. If you’re in a hurry, don’t underestimate the help of heated seats in your car, even on warmer days, it can instantly relieve some of the worst pain.

Herbal tea like chamomile, mint, raspberry and blackberry can aid in tense muscles and bitter moods. Acupuncture, chiropractic therapy and massages may also aid in cramping as well.

For women who experience intense menstrual pains normally, the aid of a doctor and prescribed medication may provide the relief you need.

And as much as you might not want to hear it during that week- exercise. Lying on the couch with a pint of ice cream does not loosen up your tense pelvic muscles in any way. Even if it’s a walk around the block, getting out and moving around a bit can really be beneficial to your worst pains.

What are some techniques you use?

When Fast Food Attacks

When hunger strikes on the road, eating healthy seems out of the question. We’ve all experienced a long road trip where the only signs of life seem to be at fast food joints. If you’re in a situation with no nutritious alternative in site, there’s still hope for your waistline (if you can resist the burger).

Not all salads at McDonalds are great, but you can make a pretty smart decision if you’re faced with the golden arches. Order any salad without chicken, and you should stay under the 200 calorie mark (a Caesar salad without chicken is 90). If you are looking for some protein, always order grilled chicken instead of crispy. Depending on your salad, that will take you around the mid 200 mark, although both the Southwest and Asian salads with grilled chicken push over 300.

As for the dressings, flat out don’t go there. Even the low fat dressings add on an unnecessary 50+ calories (and if you think you’re doing alright with the Caesar salad and want that dressing on top, it’ll tack on an additional 190 calories, MORE than the actual salad!)

If you’re looking for a sandwich, you might be surprised by the healthiest options. A grilled snack wrap is 270 calories, and that simple little grilled chicken sandwich is going to cost you 420. (Keep your eyes off those French fries too. A small fry packs more calories than your salad alone (250).)

Your best bet for lengthy car rides is to pack snacks and sandwiches to eat on the go. If you know you’re going to be faced with the choice of fast food places, do a little research before you go. It’s now fairly easy to find nutrition facts on most restaurants websites. Handle these sites with caution though- Burger King, for example, will try to sell you a low carb Whopper Jr. less than 200 calories if you eat it without mayo, ketchup or a bun.

Understanding how big chains market their food, and finding the truth in their nutrition facts is surprising. Make sure you comprehend your family’s favorite road side stop before hand, so you don’t make a mistake while there.

Picking a Fitness Center

I found this great article on what to look for when picking a fitness center.

The author makes a couple great points that are key. The truth is, belonging to a fitness center is easy. Going regularly is where most of us get in trouble. You can bet that your fitness center is making a fortune off those of us who pay for memberships but rarely use them.

However, this article is a great read for anyone considering purchasing a membership, as well as great for those who already belong. If you’re having a hard time motivating yourself to go, consider why your fitness center may not be working for you. For most of us, the reason can be simply solved by one of my favorite suggestions from the article- socializing.

You can bet others at your gym are there for the some of the same reasons as you. You already have a couple things in common with those friendly faces in the weight room, and the more you see these strangers, the more alike your routines may be. Strike up conversation and form friendships with your gym-mates. Despite how much you might want your workout time to be a solo experience, working along side someone has fabulous benefits.

Also look at what your center has to offer you. Spa treatments? Group classes? Do they offer low cost or free personal instructors? Also another great tip from the article- if you’re new to an area, try several fitness centers before you commit to one. They should allow you a week or two trial period.

Dealing with Procrastination

You’ve got a big project is due in a week, and then you find, days have past, and no work has been done on it. It’s the night before, and you’re up at a ridiculous time putting the project together.

It happens to all of us more often than we’d like to admit. Procrastination is a daily problem that ranges from putting off taking the garbage out to pulling an all-nighter. A little putting off is no problem, but falling into a constant pattern of procrastination can be overwhelming. By recognizing your procrastination early, the odds of completing it earlier grow.

Think about breaking up your project. If you work on small bits at a time, you’re less likely to put off the whole thing until the last minute. Consider writing yourself a to-do list for the day and sneaking in bits of work. If you’re close to crossing off all your errands and chores for the day and have one tiny task left to accomplish, it may drive you to working for a bit.

Or, engage in the good kind of procrastination. This article brought light to the new term. If you are accomplishing more important work while procrastinating, it’s considered to be positive procrastination. (However, how many of us actually do that?)

Procrastination boils down to a simple idea though. The main reason for not starting something is because it doesn’t interest you. Why is your project uninteresting? Are you afraid of starting something large? Afraid of failing? Is your project daunting or boring? What can you do to solve these problems?

What tasks do you procrastinate the most with? What do you often do with your time while procrastinating?

Keeping a Food Log

Visit a nutritionist and your first assignment will most likely be to start a food log. Doctors often ask patients to keep track for a few weeks to determine issues, and weight loss groups focus on keeping track of your daily intake. Although writing down every meal and snack can seem meticulous and daunting, it can be very beneficial.

If you suffer from any constant problem from heart burn and high blood pressure to muscle cramping and acne, monitoring your food patterns can simply clear up issues. A post I found here gives some great information on starting a food log.

Reviewing your log can bring light to what foods you are leaving out of your diet. It can also be a great way to track your desserts, planning when you can treat yourself instead of doing so randomly. Depending on your needs, your log will most likely differ drastically from anyone else’s. Those looking for a weight management agent will find comfort in the reliability and simplicity of the log, while others who cook for a family may rely on theirs to determine when it’s time to change up dinners.

Foods to Keep on Hand

Stocking your pantry with healthy foods is your first defense in eating healthy and controlling your food intake.

Making good choices in the grocery store will pay off in the future. Here’s a good starter list of foods you might not think to always keep on hand-

Frozen sliced veggies- This is perfect for all occasions. If you have a hard time getting your daily recommended amount of in, keeping a bag of mixed frozen veggies on hand is a great idea. They can be cooked up very quickly for snacks, tossed in a stir-fry, served as a side, with pasta, or just about any other way.

Frozen berries- Again, quick and easy. Keeping them in the fridge may even make you feel like you’re going in for ice cream, but you’re coming out with something so much better for you. They’re great frozen right out of the bag, or thawed for a bit, can be quick for on the go or be paired up really great with a dollop of ice cream for dessert.

Canned Beans/Tuna/Chicken- All of these are great sources of quick protein. They are quick, and can make for a few great recipes if you’re stuck in a rut.

Fruit Juice- Check out your juice carefully and you could be doing great for your diet. Grape Juice has those great benefits of red wine, and many other fruit juices can boost up your vitamin C in a second.

These are just a few ideas of great always on hand items. Shopping smartly can help your waste line tremendously. Think about incorporating some of these everyday items into your fridge! What are some always quick buys you go for when shopping?

Messy House Effects Mood

A new study has shown that mold in your home may affect more than your health. A clip on CNN.com explained a recent study from Brown University found mold in homes can produce depression like symptoms for those living inside.

I find this study to be pretty believable. Not all of us are neat-freaks, but living in a clean environment is much easier to live in and enjoy. Living with a mess becomes a self-conscious matter when unexpected guests drop by, and makes daily tasks much more difficult. A dirty home can make you feel stressed out- making you feel like you have a large daunting cleaning project to tackle, or prevent you from finding things you need quickly.

However, due to the increasing number of manufactured products being brought into the home, mold can form more easily than ever. Most of us may be harboring some without knowing it. This article discussing the CNN clip says that our daily exposure to environmental toxins continues to grow with the use of personal care products, household cleaners, pharmaceuticals, food, and water.

The study explained that mold tends to grow in darker areas, and lack of light on its own can produce depression like signs. Also, those who are depressed may tend to clean their home less, creating the connection found. The study also hypothesized that the physical effects of having mold in your home may cause the depression like symptoms, or even that mold has a direct relation to the frontal area of the brain which controls mood, and judgment.

In any case, this study proves the importance of keeping up with physical and mental hygiene. Keeping up a clean environment makes your home warm and welcoming for visitors and those living inside. Cleaning regularly promotes a good routine activity and is beneficial for your health as well.

Improving Your Self-Esteem

After about age 12, few are reminded regularly about their self esteem. Instilling positive self worth is a major part of adolescence, but often ignored as we get older and become too busy.

Because of this, a growing number of older women find themselves feeling lost and fall into a pattern of low self esteem. Between feelings of self consciousness and being bogged down by mundane routine, it’s not uncommon to feel depressed and more so, feel too busy to pick yourself back up.

However, harboring negative feelings about yourself can be detrimental to your daily relationships with others. Keeping up a positive attitude about yourself is just as important (if not more so) than maintaining a healthy physically.

Learning to value yourself and “roll with the punches” is a key start to maintaining a healthy self-worth. Those with low self esteem tend to rely on how they feel to determine what they think of themselves. Try to stay level headed no matter what negative or positive aspects come through your life.

A lack of self-esteem may come from feeling ignored or disrespected. When around others, make sure to communicate respectfully and efficiently. Speaking confidently will command the attention of those around you and will build self-esteem as you feel others around are listening and respecting you in return.

Sometimes family life can be stressful and create feelings of being under appreciated and ignored. Recognize where you stand in the family structure. If you are constantly in a negative position, re-create your roll. Discuss the situation with family members, and work to assist others with reinforcing language and actions of how you would like to be treated in daily life.

More so, practice the little aspects daily that we often teach children. Praise yourself for working hard even if your project was poorly received. Practice self constructive criticism by analyzing what aspects you are weak in, strong in, and recognize ways you can grow. Taking care of yourself can pay off in many ways. Don’t ignore feeling weak; learn to recognize that mental and emotional health is just as important as physical!

Fighting Through Sweet Cravings

Do you feel over powered by your sweet tooth? We all have moments where nothing will do like a chocolate bar (and those are not to be ignored!), but the trick to staying in shape is to recognize and treat your cravings smart. Using portion control and tricky techniques, giving in to your temptations won’t curb your diet.

One interesting tip I picked up from this article, is to head to vegetables when your sweet tooth speaks up. Sounds strange, but by adding a semi-sugary taste to your meals, you become less likely to crave an after dinner candy bar. Vegetables like cooked carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and beets all have a light sugary taste. Incorporating a little sweet with your dinner in a healthy way will definitely keep you on track with fitness.

Don’t try to ignore or fight your cravings. Often, trying to keep to a very strict diet ends up in a nasty back-fire. Recognize what you’re craving and try to find alternative ways to treat it, or treat it smartly with small portions. Be prepared ahead of time for cravings to strike. Life is far too short to imprison ourselves, not allowing certain foods in. Be smart about what you’re eating when you eat it and you’ll inevitably save yourself from a sweets attack later on.

Portion control. I’ve talked about this before. Stuffing a whole candy bar down your throat is worse for you than you may think. Check the nutrition facts (and serving amount) listed on the back and you’ll be overwhelmed to see what you’re putting in your body. If you’re prone to sweet attacks, look up a simple semi-healthy sweet recipe you can make.

Cut the servings down small. You can still get the sweets you crave if you are smart about servings. Need ice cream? Try filling a small cup with a scoop. Pre-package candy or cookies into smaller containers when you buy them. Don’t stand in the kitchen, next to the cookie cabinet while eating your sweets, if makes going back for seconds much easier than if you took a cookie on the go with you, or sat down with a book and ate it slowly. I’ve also found if you eat sweets with enough liquid, it helps break down the taste left in your mouth afterwards that begs for another.

Sometimes our snack attacks are far past grabbing a piece of fruit or a yogurt. When they are, teach yourself to feel OK about giving in by doing so appropriately. What are your sugar weaknesses? How do you control your intake?

Fall Foods

Autumn is quickly approaching, but as summer winds down; our favorite fall foods start to come out.

Farmers markets galore! Thanksgiving may be a little too far away, but food fans shouldn’t fret, between all the rich foods of fall, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Especially for those looking to start up a healthy routine (pre-New Year’s Resolution anyone?).

September-November offer some of the best foods all year long. Farmers are harvesting all the good from their fields, and everything is fresh and plentiful. Now is the best time to start taking advantage of all the season has to offer. Take the time to get acquainted with all the fruits and vegetables fall has to offer.

Here are some great combinations of fall favorites to look forward to that will tide you into the winter months-

Salad + low fat vinaigrette + dried fruit + nuts:

You can’t go wrong with this. In fact, it’s a theme that’s taking over our favorite restaurants by storm (Panera). Pair up some greens with any combination of dried fruits (cranberries & cherries are great) or sliced apples, pears, strawberries or grapes. Combined with some nuts for protein and a low fat dressing and you have a tasty meal you can feel confident eating.

Veggie galore:

Everything is in season right now, everything is fresh. Take advantage of all the great veggies at your local grocery store. Corn, green beans, carrots, and cabbage are all old favorites. Avocados are a great fresh find for those who haven’t experienced them before. The green veggies are loaded in anti-oxidants and packed with vitamins as well. Try spreading avocado on sandwiches or throwing wedges in salads.

Take advantage of all the healthy treats available this season. Start some good habits to carry over when staying true to healthy foods gets harder. What are some of your favorite fall recipes?

Surprise Fruit- Pomegranates

Pomegranates are not quite your typical banana, but breaking into one of these super seeded specimens could be better for you than your typical apple a day.

The fruit, known for its hundreds of tiny seeds inside a hard waxy shell, houses tons of health benefits. Pomegranate juice provides vitamin B, C and potassium. Besides that, the juice has shown to reduce heart disease, high blood pressure, prostate cancer, osteoarthritis, and fight against dental plaque. (That’s right, your dentist will thank you!)

However, pomegranates are an odd fruit, and between breaking into them and keeping the seeds together and figuring out how to eat them can be challenging. To open a pomegranate, slice off a bit of both ends, then lightly score the outside of the fruit with a knife. Submerge it in water and work the skin off and lightly brush the seeds out of the fruit. They will sink to the bottom of your bowl while the waxy outer coat will float. Scoop out the waxy shell and strain the bowl of water so your seeds remain.

As for eating them, the seeds can be eaten plain, or sprinkled on grilled chicken, vegetable soup, or cottage cheese. You can also make your own pomegranate juice by squishing the seeds through a strainer over a bowl to collect the drippings.

What’s your favorite fruit? How do you uniquely add fruit to your diet?

Exercise Alternative- Inline Skating

Inline skating is mostly associated with young boys and their inability to move out of the way for cars during street hockey.

However, rollerblading can provide a great alternative to normal exercising. Inline skating is ideal for city living. Any area with decently paved sidewalks is a rollerblader’s best friend. Well paved neighborhoods or smaller communities with less traffic are great areas to break your blades out as well.

Buying a cheep pair of reliable blades is pretty simple to come by (any local sporting good store should have a fairly good selection of new and used skates). Heading outdoors and skating before dark can produce some great results as well. This article discussing advantages and disadvantages to skating claims that 30-minutes at a steady pace can burn up to 285 calories (about 75 less than running for the same period of time).

Rollerbladers can enjoy a wide range of health benefits as well. The above article discusses a study that proved in-line skating stocks your entire legs with muscles as well as strengthening the buttock, hips and lower back. By adding an arm swinging motion into your skating you can also build your biceps, triceps and shoulder muscles.

Skating is also a great means of quick transportation for all ages, plus it offers relaxation, increased energy levels, lowers blood pressure, weight control and reduces risk of cancer and heart disease.

Participating in inline skating can be a dangerous activity. Skating related injuries can occur to anyone, especially those beginning or unfamiliar with the territory they are skating on. To be safe, practice skating on a large flat surface and always wear a helmet and safety pads. Make sure you are comfortable with coming to a safe stop before venturing out of your drive way, and find a pace that you feel most comfortable at.

The benefits of inline skating can be fantastic. The advantage of learning a new skill will last a lifetime (including at the ice rink). Consider varying your typical workout routine with fun group outings like skating.

Controling Allergies

Allergy season is quickly approaching and for most, that means some sort of mild to severe sniffles and sneezes.

About 60 million people in the US alone are prone to suffering during allergy season. So what are your options for keeping sane when ragweed, pollen and other allergens attack?

Getting your allergies specifically checked out at a doctor is one option. Allergy tests can offer explanation to your itchy experiences. Often doctors can supply you with a great prescription that makes you feel allergy free. There are several other ways to help control your allergies as well.

Make your washing machine your best friend. Wash, re-wash, and wash again. Mold, dead skin cells, hair, pet odors, germs and anything else you or family/friends may bring in from the outdoors is crawling all over your sheets, towels and blankets. Continually washing these items can cut down your allergies dramatically.

It’s a good idea to keep a bottle of some sort of anti-bacterial or anti-allergy disinfectant spray around the house as well. If you’re unable to wash things regularly enough to keep your eyes from watering, spraying down surfaces when guests leaves can help tremendously.

Although I have heard mixed reviews on indoor fan usage, there are special allergenic fans with air filters that work wonders for those with seasonal allergies.

When are your allergies the worst? What are some of your best tips for fighting back?

Oatmeal for Belly Fat & A Quick Carb Lesson

I was fairly surprised when I saw this article on oatmeal helping reduce stomach fat. Oatmeal is great for your heart, but I wasn’t aware how helpful it could be for loosing weight. So I did a little research to see if I could find some truth behind it all.

Oatmeal is in the family of complex carbohydrates. For those of you not so savvy in nutrition talk- there are two forms of carbs, complex and simple. All are made of sugar, but the complex ones form a chain in your stomach, that is harder to break up into fat.

Because there are so many simple carbs (and they are very tasty), those who are looking to lose weight sometimes tend to cut carbs out of their diets completely. While I have never agreed with trying to quit food cold turkey, those on the anti-carb diets may generally see progress before most likely crashing and burning into a several plates of pasta the following week.

Carbs are important for you though! As long as you’re smart and eating the right ones, they can be beneficial in your trek to weight loss. Carbs are our main source of energy, plus while working out they help fuel our muscular contractions which means that your baked potato for lunch is actually helping you in the gym.

Therefore- oatmeal really does help you lose fat. But so do many other complex carbs. Stick to cornmeal, barley and oatmeal because they are great carbs in their most natural state (without being broken down or added to in order to produce another food). You can also eat potatoes, brown rice, bagels and pasta (however I recommend eating whole wheat instead of white in both the pasta and bread departments- but that’s another article for another day!)

What are your carb weaknesses? Do you have favorite oatmeal recipes?