Need Stress Relief?

Thank goodness for workouts. I don’t know about you guys, but working out is a great stress reliever for me and lately, that’s exactly what I needed. All the tests, studying, and social activities are finally getting to me. Last night I had a lot of energy with no outlet to anything other than studying so I decided to go work out and release some anxiety and tension. It wasn’t a hard workout, it was just normal. I ran a mile and then lifted to do a total body routine. It was fabulous and that stress energy I had was gone until I get slammed with more work to do, but I’m a lot happier when I work out on a regular basis.

Working out is my way of relieving stress when life gets a little overwhelming, but there are others to help you cope. Try to identify things in your life that cause stress like work, driving, or your significant other. Knowing the source can help you balance it out with positive things in your life. Don’t be afraid to share your feelings and set yourself up for personal success to beat the stress problems.

Here are some tips to boost your body and mind while dealing with stress.

Adopt a healthy lifestyle

-Exercise regularly. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week. Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing pent-up stress and tension.
-Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.
-Reduce caffeine and sugar. The temporary "highs" caffeine and sugar provide often end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll sleep better.
-Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs may provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary. Don’t avoid or mask the issue at hand; deal with problems head on and with a clear mind.
-Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally

For more healthy suggestions about stress relief, check out this site.

Don’t be afraid to help yourself out because when your body feels better, your mind feels better.

“Low –Fat” equal to “Eat more”

Scared of being fat, then stop reaching for thou low–fat snacks. Cornell University researchers found that people consume more calories when they eat Low – Fat snacks then they eat regular version.

You might be surprised as I am. The obvious truth bends this is that; we human tend to underestimate the amount of calories in Low- Fat snacks. Therefore we consume them with out no worry until we please. The research also found this to be true.

Snacks are generally designed to be portable, quick and satisfying. Which means that they are prepare to be more appealing. Also when they are made Low-Fat we get the illusion that we are entitled to eat more of them. Because we holed true every thing that is Low-Fat is healthy.

Sure, “The Low-Fat snacks had 59 percent less fat .But they only contain 15 percent fewer calories pre serving.”According to Janet Helm a dietitian and nutrition consultant. Well, this leads us to say “Low –Fat” is not equal to “Low–Calorie.”

According to abcNEWS, The study summarizes that low fat labels give people the mental permeation to eat more. In simple words when a food is made Low –Fat we feel less guilty and eat more. Here are some ways to avoid the Low-Fat trap given by Janet Helm.

· Do not let “low fat” dominate your decision about snacks.

· Resist the temptation to eat directly from a package. Always portion food out in to a plate or a bowl so you see exactly how much you are eating.

· Keep tempting treats out of sight and out of mind.

· Replace the cookie jar on your kitchen countertop with a bowl of fresh Fruit.

· Pour yourself a tall glass of water when the urge to snack strikes. You may find that you where really thirsty rather than Hungry.

· Skip the urge to nibble when you’re bored, frustrated or stressed. Instead of reaching into the fridge, go for a walk or call a friend

For more visit absnews.go.com

So Important

On this site, we talk a lot about ways to create a better healthier life for yourself. Today, however, I’m going to talk about something that can potentially save your life and the lives of those you love. I’m sure you’ve seen the ads preaching of the importance of wearing your seat belt. “Buckle up, it’s the law.” Or “Click it or ticket.” You pick the jazzy slogan. But wearing your seat belt is about a lot more than avoiding a run in with the law. This weekend I was in a bad accident that more than likely would have killed me had I not been wearing my seatbelt. I lost control of my car and rolled it four times. Because I was wearing my seatbelt I walked out of my wreck with nothing more than a sprained neck and a few bumps and bruises. Now, I know that God had some angels looking after me yesterday. But if I had not been strapped into my car there is no doubt in my mind that I would have been immediately ejected from the car, with consequences I don’t even want to consider. You may think it will never happen to you; I certainly didn’t. But it did, and I’ve been thanking God ever since that my mom and dad taught me the importance of buckling up every single time you get in a car.

At first, the image of the crash kept replaying over and over in my head and I just wished that I could forget. But now, I’m glad that I remember. I can tell you, and one day my kids, the importance of always wearing your seat belt. If just one person reads this and starts wearing their seat belt, I will be happy. Trust me, life starts to mean a whole lot more when you see it all flash before your eyes.

So here’s my advice, take time to appreciate the ones you love, don’t sweat the small stuff, and always, always buckle up.

Number One Reason Not to Become Overweight

A 33 year-old Michigan man was removed from his home Tuesday due to serious concern for his health. This man weighed a whopping 900 pounds and evidently had not left his home since 2003. Rescue workers were called in to help transport this man to the nearest hospital. Firefighters cut a hole in the side of the man’s house and used a forklift to transport him from his second-floor bedroom to a flatbed truck. He was then covered with a blue tarp to keep from seeing the many onlookers of this incredible operation.

This is insane! This poor man. Evidently, he suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Prader-Willi Syndrome, that creates a chronic hunger feeling that may lead to overeating and possibly life-threatening obesity. There are some people who may not have an excuse for their obesity however in which case, they are just disgustingly fat.
This is a perfect example of why you shouldn’t let your eating get the best of you. I can not imagine the embarrassment and sorrow this man must feel. If I had to be lifted by a forklift from my bed and was large enough to be covered by not just a blanket but a huge tarp, I don’t think I could recover from my shame.

I know that weight is a struggle and don’t get me wrong, I feel bad for this guy, but when you get that overweight, it is completely unnecessary and gross. I just hope he can recover and become a normal member of society again.

Just remember, keep your weight under control or the forklift could come to you!

For the original post, click here.

Need a Boost?

I’ve always been a little skeptical of energy drinks. Can they really be good for your body by giving you a shot of caffeine and sugar that sends your mind to a new planet. Well, probably not, but as a college student during midterm time, it’s important for me to be able to stay up late so I can complete my papers and study for exams. I don’t drink pop because it really isn’t good for your body. The carbonation has been shown to degrade muscle in research studies, and the sugary liquid is filled with empty calories that can only help build up those love handles that are hanging out on the hips.

Is an energy drink really the answer to an alternate energy source for my body? Well, I think I found an energy drink that will amaze you. It’s called Enviga. Put out by Nestle and Coca-Cola, Enviga claims to not only give you energy but it burns calories! In fact, it claims negative calories. A Swedish study proved that drinking three Envigas per day will burn anywhere from 50 to 100 calories a day. Another plus is that this drink it made from green tea which means that it contains antioxidants. It also comes in great flavors such as Peach and Berry. This is great, an energy boost, great flavor, and free calorie burning.

Thanks to Enviga, I can stay awake till the wee hours of the morning and feel good about what I’m putting into my body as I lose weight not trying. Sounds like a package deal to me. Enjoy!

What’s your favorite energy drink and why? Let me know in case I need to switch drinks but still have a healthy alternative.

Freshman Pounds

I can’t wait to see it.

As a college freshmen, I am anxious for next summer. Next summer, all my friends who went to various different colleges will come home, and we’ll be together again…and I can see who got fat and gained more than their freshman fifteen!

Health and fitness is all about habit; good habits make healthy people, bad habits make not-so-healthy people. When making a healthy change like a diet, you have a better chance of sticking to it if you make those healthy foods a habit, right? Well, I have a theory about habit and this freshman fifteen thing. I think that those people who were active in high school, like the athletes or those who worked out all the time, will gain less of the freshman poundage. Think about it…those who were active in high school habitually set aside time to be active. Their bodies were used to being in motion all the time. They weren’t used to being lazy all the time. I believe this body memory won’t let these ex-athletes sit around all the time and do nothing. I believe that this group of people will be more driven to keep some sort of fitness routine. I believe that their former habits will come back to haunt them.

I’m not saying that these people won’t gain any weight; there’s no way they’re going to come back nice and svelte like they were back in full training. But I think as an average, they’re going to gain less weight than those who weren’t active in high school.

An Apple A Day...

In my pursuit of discovering how to live a healthy lifestyle, I called upon the services of my aunt a trained nutritionist and dietician. Not only was I frustrated with the lack of healthy variety in the dining halls here at school but I consider myself generally uneducated about what’s truly healthy and what’s masquerading as health food while packing on tons of hidden calories. My aunt promised to look at the school menus online and send me a general guideline of healthier choices I can make.

She started by asking me general questions about my current eating habits. She told me that it’s important to analyze your current likes and dislikes before trying to create a diet. She pointed out that the most successful diets are not the ones with the best intentions, but the ones that you’ll actually follow through with. If you absolutely detest broccoli, don’t put it on your menu. Because no matter what you tell yourself, if you hate it, chances are you won’t eat it. Now, so concessions must be made. If you don’t like any vegetables at all (and I confess, I don’t like many) you may have to suck it up and eat some veggies. Try lots of different things, you may find that by expanding your tastes just a little you add a lot of new options to your diet plan. Also, eating six small meals a day will help speed up your metabolism and help you feel fuller longer. Finally, do not forbid any foods. I believe that the quickest way to put me on a chocolate rampage is to tell me I can’t ever have it again. My aunt suggested allowing yourself a small dessert three days a week will satisfy any sweet tooth just enough to overcome those cravings.

Quick tips:

• Stay open to new foods.
• Create a small list of things that are healthy to eat on a regular basis.
• Keep your diet plan realistic.
• Eat 5-6 small meals a day.
• Always eat breakfast.
• Eat lean meats and plenty of fiber.
• Stop thinking of it as a "diet". Your changes should be part of a new lifestyle.
• Allow yourself a “cheat day”