DAY 41 – Winter Workout Ideas

———-

DAY 42 – Here are my picks of the best health and fitness gifts, that won’t break the bank.

———-

DAY 43 – Tips For Saving Money On Your Grocery Bill

In order to eat healthy during our declining economy, we need to learn to take time to make the most of every dollar we spend on groceries. That can be easier said than done, but it can be done.  Taking time to plan is key to your success.

Here are a few tips to help you eat (and shop) healthy on a budget…

Tip #1 – Take the time to look for deals, use coupons and check sale fliers. The Internet has made this even easier, you can check sales and print coupons right from your computer.

Tip #2 – Plan your meals and create your shopping list around the ingredients you will need.

Tip #3 – Keep to your list at the grocery store and avoid impulse buying.

Tip #4 – Purchase fresh food items and avoid buying processed foods whenever possible.

Tip #5 – Avoid foods with labels making “special” health claims.  Often these are marketing techniques designed to get you to pay more money for something. Truly healthy foods do not need to be marketed as healthy…they just are.

These are just a few quick tips that can help you save money on groceries while still eating healthy.  If you have any tips that you use, please share them in comments.

Also See:

How You Can Save Money On Food and Still Eat Healthy

———-

DAY 44 – A great way to get your fresh vegetables – Pre-cut and cleaned.

Do you find yourself wanting to eat healthier, but cleaning, cutting and preparing fresh vegetables isn’t working out for you?

I love vegetables but when I buy them fresh they often go bad before I even get a chance to eat them.  For that reason, I tend to buy most of my vegetables frozen.  But after my post on raw food diets, I really wanted to try and start eating some raw vegetables occasionally – and frozen really doesn’t cut it.

So…I was at the supermarket with my daughter yesterday and the bagged lettuce was on sale (when it’s on sale I usually get some, it just makes it a lot easier when we want a quick salad).  Anyway, I noticed they also had bags of pre-cut vegetables on sale too.  Knowing it would be much more likely that I would eat the pre-cut and cleaned vegetables, I decided to get a few bags.  They even had a stir-fry variety that had snow peas (I love snow peas), and I can’t even remember the last time I had the time or inclination to make a stir fry, so I decided to give it a try.

Well, I was not disappointed one bit. This is a product I will continue to buy (when they are on sale).

They were from a company called Eat Smart and they even come in special bags that you can use to steam the vegetables in the microwave.

———-

DAY 45 – The health benefits of sex?

There are a lot of things that we can do to help maintain good health, but many of those things aren’t very much fun.

What could be more fun than sex? Well, apparently a lot of women would say that blogging is (you might even be one of them), but blogging doesn’t really have the same kind of health benefits that are associated with good sex.

A happy, healthy sex life can benefit you in many ways…

Help you maintain a healthy weight by burning calories.

Relieve stress.

Boost your immunity.

Improve your cardiovascular health.

Reduce pain.

Help promote a good night sleep.

So, if you can pull yourself away from blogging every now and then, for a little walk on the wild side, you’ll be doing your body good. Are you willing to make the sacrifice?

———-

DAY 46 – Don’t wear clothing that is too loose fitting.

If you avoid wearing loose fitting clothing, you will also avoid overeating and possible weight gain.

It’s much easier to overeat when we are wearing loose fitting clothing (such as sweats).  So, try sticking to jeans that fit well or are a little snug, and you might avoid picking up some of those extra holiday pounds.

Also See:

Dieting Tip:  Keep Health Foods In The House At All Times

Burn Off Holiday Calories

Healthy Holiday Dieting Tips

———-

DAY 47 – Could you benefit from taking a daily multivitamin?

Most likely, the answer is yes.

If you are not eating a well balanced diet (and most of us aren’t), then taking a daily multivitamin can help increase your immune system, decrease fatigue, and promote better health.

And, there is no need to pay a lot of money for multivitamins – Centrum and One-a-Day from your local pharmacy are just fine.   Because absorption of vitamins takes place in the intestines, it’s important to buy vitamins with enteric coating.  Since a vitamin is only as effective as it’s absorption…The enteric coating allows the vitamin to get past the stomach where it can be absorbed most effectively.

Here are some of the benefits of vitamins…

• Vitamin A or Retinol: Eye disorders, acne, skin disorders, infections, healing of wounds
• Vitamin B1 or Thiamine: Beriberi, heart diseases, indigestion, body metabolism, blood circulation, brain development
• Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin: Cataract, skin disorders, body metabolism, immunity, nervous system, anemia
• Vitamin B3 or Niacin: Weakness, digestion, nervous system, skin disorders, migraine, heart disorders, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, diarrhea
• Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic Acid: Stress, arthritis, infections, skin disorders, greying of hair, high cholesterol
• Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxamine: Diabetes, piles, convulsions, excessive menstrual bleeding, stress, insomnia, morning sickness, travel sickness
• Vitamin B7 or Biotin: Skin disorders, body metabolism, hair care
• Vitamin B9 or Folic Acid: Anemia, digestion, sprue, pregnancy, brain growth, skin disorders, gout, red blood cell formation
• Vitamin B12 or Cyanocobalamin: Anemia, smoking, pregnancy, liver disorders, kidney disorders, mouth ulcers
• Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid: Eye disorders, cancer, scurvy, common cold, infections, diabetes, stress, high blood cholesterol, heart diseases, cancer, high blood pressure, kidney disorders, internal bleeding, piles, corneal ulcers, inflammations, lead poisoning, immunity
• Vitamin D: Rickets, arthritis, tooth decay, bone repair, immunity, blood pressure, diabetes
• Vitamin E or Tocopherol: Anti-aging, skin care, heart diseases, blood circulation, sterility, brain function, menopause, painful menstrual cycles, eye disorders
• Vitamin K: Internal bleeding, blood clotting, biliary obstruction, osteoporosis, excessive menstrual flow, menstrual pain

To avoid an upset stomach, take a multivitamin with food.  And, don’t take a multivitamin before bed, because it could make it difficult for you to fall asleep.

Also See:

Why You Should Take A Multi-Vitamin

———-

DAY 48 -Healthy Holiday Cookie Recipes

My daughter is ready to start baking some holiday cookies…But I’m worried I’m gonna want to eat (too many of) them.   I never seem to be able to just eat one or two. So I thought a good idea would be to bake “healthy” holiday cookies.

Do you need to bake holiday cookies?  Are you interested in making healthier cookies?  If so, try some of these Healthy Holiday Cookie Recipes…

• Angel Delights
• Nicki’s Healthy Cookie Recipe
• Healthy No Bake Cookie
• Double Dark Chocolate Biscotti
• Whole Grain (gluten free) Gingersnaps

Do you have a favorite healthy holiday cookie recipe?

Also See:

Heart Healthy Eggnog

Make Any Recipe More Healthy

———-

DAY 49 – Weight Loss Tip: Smart Snacking While Dieting

One of the biggest problems we face when we are on a diet, is the feeling of deprivation. We feel deprived, and we want to eat the “junk” foods that aren’t part of our healthy diet. Believe it or not, the best way to stay on your diet at this point, is to give in to your desire to cheat.

The key to cheating on your diet, is to cheat using strict portion control. Have your cake. Have your cookies. Have your candy. Have your chips. You can have what you desire, but only one serving. I know it sounds hard, but if you get in the habit, it will become second nature.

Even though this is a total no-brainer, most of us (including myself) don’t actually do it.

Dawn from Life at the Moment…

Have you ever sat down to have a few chips and the next thing you know, the bag is 3/4 gone? Or started eating some Thin Mint cookies and ended up eating the whole role? No matter what you’re eating, look at the label first. Figure out how much equals 1 serving and how many calories are in 1 serving. Put 1 serving worth on a plate or in a bowl, seal the bag/box, and put it back in the cupboard. Stop after 1 serving. If you do this all the time, you’ll train yourself to eat more appropriate portions, and you’ll be more aware of how much you’re eating when you snack.

Also See:

• Overeating During The Holidays
• Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
• Believe In Yourself: Set Realistic Dieting & Fitness Goals

———-

DAY 50 – Reduce Stress With This Easy Acupressure Technique

The most wonderful time of the year, can also be the most stressful and hectic time of the year. So…What do you do when holiday shopping, traveling, cooking and entertaining, start to get the best of you? Why not try this very simple acupressure technique?

It’s called the Foot Three Mile point (or St 36), and when stimulated it can strengthen your body’s immune system, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and give you more energy.  The best part is, it’s easy enough to do yourself.

Here is all you have to do…

Just use your fingers to apply pressure to the acupressure point.  The point is located four finger widths below the lower border of the kneecap and one finger width off the shin bone to the outside.  If you flex your foot up and down; you will feel the muscle move under your fingers if you are on St 36.

Apply moderate to firm pressure on the St 36 point.  Hold the pressure for one minute.  Then do the same on the other leg.  This point can also be stimulated either with the heel of your opposite foot, or with your fingers.

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed with all the holiday hoopla, give it a try.

Also See:

Common Causes of Headaches

———-