Here's today's featured article:
by: Joey Dweck
Losing weight is never really easy, but when you find it necessary to prepare diet meals for yourself and fare that your family will eat as well, it can become really difficult. If you find yourself in this situation, the solution may be easier than you might think. While your family need not go on a diet with you, making some changes to the way you prepare meals can help to ensure that you stick to your diet goals and your family eats healthier as well.
One of the most important things you can do to make the switch to healthier eating is pay attention to the cuts of meat that you purchase and prepare. Whenever possible, purchase the leanest cuts of meat available. They may be slightly more expensive, but the health benefits you receive are well worth the extra cost. To beef up the health benefits even more, switch from frying prep methods to other methods such as roasting, baking, grilling and broiling. This is a great way to lose weight and keep your arteries free and clear.
Everyone, whether you happen to be dieting or not, can benefit from adding more vegetables to the menu. This is only true; however, if those veggies are prepared in the healthiest ways possible. Instead of loading them down with lots of cheese and butter, opt for other tasty methods. Steamed vegetables seasoned with herbs, spices, imitation butter and/or flavored vinegar provide a tasty and healthy alternative to fat and calorie laden vegetable casserole dishes.
Unless you are on a very strict no carbohydrate diet, grains can actually be good for your weight loss plans and form a healthy part of your family’s eating routine as well. The important key is to choose healthy grains instead of those that are high in refined sugar. Opt for whole grain rolls, breads and wild rice. Not only are these choices healthier, but they also taste better.
One of the biggest problems for families where one or more members are on a diet is satisfying the sweet tooth of some without wrecking the diet plans of others. One way to handle this is by stocking the freezer and pantry with dessert options that are tasty but won’t sabotage your weight loss goals. Consider choices such as low-cal and low-fat ice cream or yogurt. Paired with an all fruit spread topping or light whipped topping, there’s a good chance the kids won’t even notice the difference as they dig in. Other great dessert alternatives include fat-free pudding, sherbet, gelatin, fruit cocktail and apple sauce.
If you really want to energize your diet and create a healthier routine for your family, consider skipping dessert all-together and heading outside for a group walk, bike ride or even a game of Frisbee or volleyball. Not only will you be setting a healthy example for the rest of your family, but you’ll also grow stronger as a family unit while spending quality time together.
About The Author
Joey Dweck is the Founder & CEO of http://WeightLossBuddy.com a website committed to 24/7 support, expert advice, and helping people find a buddy(s) who will support their effort to lose weight, and live a healthier lifestyle. And it's all Free. Sign up for the Free 4-Part E-Course “Losing For Good” http://www.weightlossbuddy.com.
**Get a money-making mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
How To Keep Stress At Bay When There's No Time For A Break
Welcome back - here's today's featured article:
by: Liz Labrum
Taking exercise helps us get back in touch with reality, it grounds us and releases tension and feel-good endorphins. However tough deadlines don't always allow for a break from our desks so what can you do when you need to work at your maximum and keep your mind sharp?
When you are straining your brain over some task or problem the neurons of your brain function more intensely. As they do this, they build up toxic waste products that can cause foggy thinking. You know that feeling you get when your mind just seems to be like 'cotton wool'? Can you afford to operate like this?
At its very worst, not doing any form of exercise can lead to depression, neck and back problems and there is evidence that illnesses such as IBS either start with or are exacerbated by allowing tension to build up.
By exercising, you speed the flow of blood through your brain, moving these waste products faster. You also improve this blood flow so that even when you are not exercising, waste is eliminated more efficiently.
But of course you don't have the time to take exercise. Well you think you don't. But you could fool yourself into doing exercise regularly by sneaking it in to your life. Here's how.
If you are sitting at your desk now, take a deep breath in and let it out like a sigh. Feels better already, doesn't it?
Hands Up.
Sit up and making sure your feet are flat on the floor, raise your arms straight up and join your hands together with your arms as near to your ears as possible. And stretch; really S-T-R-E-T-C-H. Release your arms now and relax. Repeat at least twice.
Flopsey-Wopsey.
Swing your chair away from your desk, kick your shoes off. Start with a deep breath in, take your arms over your head, and slowly with a flat back, fold yourself over whilst exhaling and flop down with your arms dangling to the floor and just rest there. Your back will thank you and your brain will experience the benefits of blood and oxygen. (Pretend you're looking for a pen or something if you think everyone's looking, but chances are they're so involved with worries they won't notice.) Now come up and take a few more calming breaths. Repeat as you feel the need.
Let's Twist.
Body twists are good if you're feeling blue, anxious or fearful. (Explore yoga if you want more benefits.)
Sit on the edge of your chair with left side facing the back of the chair. Your feet and knees are together and need to stay that way throughout the pose. Place your hands on the back of the chair or as near to it as you can get. Keep your feet and knees together. Take a deep breath in, allow you shoulders to rest downwards as you do. Exhale and twist your upper body round to your left to look behind you and go as far as is comfortable. Keep your face aligned with your chest. When twist to the left push with your right hand and pull with your left. Repeat the other side.
Now I bet you're feeling better, feeling brighter and more 'up for it'? Are you not?
Having got a taste for exercise capitalise on it and start thinking how you can build more walking into your day. A walk at lunch time, walking up stairs instead of taking the lift or escalator, a walk around the office or to someone else's office. There are countless ways for you to do this. Act now, because as you do more you create the habit and your mind will present more opportunities for you to take an exercise break and you will find that you want to do longer, regular forms of exercise.
Speed Up Your Success By Slowing Down
And finally if like most people you always tend to be in a hurry, rushing from one place to another and not really spending much time sitting down and clearing your mind. You may find that when you have to perform, for example by giving a presentation, that you r mind goes into panic. Now, a good way to avoid this kind of response is just slow down a bit and think things through, visualising a positive outcome for yourself. You will find this very calming and a practical way to train your mind and body to give you what you want.
Here is a technique to get you on the fast track to success :
Simply take a long slow breath in through the nose, gently hold it for a count of four and then let the breath out as if sighing slowly. Try it now . . . . . feel the difference it makes with just one breath. Now try two more and with each out breath say the word 'relax' to yourself. Notice how you can slow down, allow any thoughts to pass, imagine they are like clouds floating by on a windy summer's day.
Turn your attention to b-r-e-a-t-h-I-n-g ... In ... and... out.
Now how do you feel? How easy was that?
About The Author
Liz Labrum
Master NLP Practitioner and Hypnotherapist
Coaching the subconscious for conscious change.
Want to drop stress, bad habits and fears?
Visit http://www.lizlabrum.co.uk
**Get a money-making mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
by: Liz Labrum
Taking exercise helps us get back in touch with reality, it grounds us and releases tension and feel-good endorphins. However tough deadlines don't always allow for a break from our desks so what can you do when you need to work at your maximum and keep your mind sharp?
When you are straining your brain over some task or problem the neurons of your brain function more intensely. As they do this, they build up toxic waste products that can cause foggy thinking. You know that feeling you get when your mind just seems to be like 'cotton wool'? Can you afford to operate like this?
At its very worst, not doing any form of exercise can lead to depression, neck and back problems and there is evidence that illnesses such as IBS either start with or are exacerbated by allowing tension to build up.
By exercising, you speed the flow of blood through your brain, moving these waste products faster. You also improve this blood flow so that even when you are not exercising, waste is eliminated more efficiently.
But of course you don't have the time to take exercise. Well you think you don't. But you could fool yourself into doing exercise regularly by sneaking it in to your life. Here's how.
If you are sitting at your desk now, take a deep breath in and let it out like a sigh. Feels better already, doesn't it?
Hands Up.
Sit up and making sure your feet are flat on the floor, raise your arms straight up and join your hands together with your arms as near to your ears as possible. And stretch; really S-T-R-E-T-C-H. Release your arms now and relax. Repeat at least twice.
Flopsey-Wopsey.
Swing your chair away from your desk, kick your shoes off. Start with a deep breath in, take your arms over your head, and slowly with a flat back, fold yourself over whilst exhaling and flop down with your arms dangling to the floor and just rest there. Your back will thank you and your brain will experience the benefits of blood and oxygen. (Pretend you're looking for a pen or something if you think everyone's looking, but chances are they're so involved with worries they won't notice.) Now come up and take a few more calming breaths. Repeat as you feel the need.
Let's Twist.
Body twists are good if you're feeling blue, anxious or fearful. (Explore yoga if you want more benefits.)
Sit on the edge of your chair with left side facing the back of the chair. Your feet and knees are together and need to stay that way throughout the pose. Place your hands on the back of the chair or as near to it as you can get. Keep your feet and knees together. Take a deep breath in, allow you shoulders to rest downwards as you do. Exhale and twist your upper body round to your left to look behind you and go as far as is comfortable. Keep your face aligned with your chest. When twist to the left push with your right hand and pull with your left. Repeat the other side.
Now I bet you're feeling better, feeling brighter and more 'up for it'? Are you not?
Having got a taste for exercise capitalise on it and start thinking how you can build more walking into your day. A walk at lunch time, walking up stairs instead of taking the lift or escalator, a walk around the office or to someone else's office. There are countless ways for you to do this. Act now, because as you do more you create the habit and your mind will present more opportunities for you to take an exercise break and you will find that you want to do longer, regular forms of exercise.
Speed Up Your Success By Slowing Down
And finally if like most people you always tend to be in a hurry, rushing from one place to another and not really spending much time sitting down and clearing your mind. You may find that when you have to perform, for example by giving a presentation, that you r mind goes into panic. Now, a good way to avoid this kind of response is just slow down a bit and think things through, visualising a positive outcome for yourself. You will find this very calming and a practical way to train your mind and body to give you what you want.
Here is a technique to get you on the fast track to success :
Simply take a long slow breath in through the nose, gently hold it for a count of four and then let the breath out as if sighing slowly. Try it now . . . . . feel the difference it makes with just one breath. Now try two more and with each out breath say the word 'relax' to yourself. Notice how you can slow down, allow any thoughts to pass, imagine they are like clouds floating by on a windy summer's day.
Turn your attention to b-r-e-a-t-h-I-n-g ... In ... and... out.
Now how do you feel? How easy was that?
About The Author
Liz Labrum
Master NLP Practitioner and Hypnotherapist
Coaching the subconscious for conscious change.
Want to drop stress, bad habits and fears?
Visit http://www.lizlabrum.co.uk
**Get a money-making mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
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