How To Get Back On Track After A Fitness Break

Fitness is a lifetime commitment.  For some, once they started, they will continue their routines throughout their lives, the degree may vary but fitness and health will always be one of their top priorities. But the majority of the people who are striving to get physically better often face a bump on their road to fitness and gave in to the temptations that are improper diet and laziness to exercise.

It is understandably normal, given that even fitness enthusiasts and hard-trained athletes have cheat ‘days’. Additionally, given the number of holidays we have, it is just human nature to enjoy and indulge once in a while. But, some never recover and choose to turn their backs to the progress they have already made.

If you have slipped into bad habits or let yourself off the hook day after day, you can be back with momentum and ease your way back to the fitness game.  And this time, try to live it and say no to lazy days and out of hand cravings.

It’s you for you

Remember who is it you’re doing all this for and make him/her accountable. Of course, that should be none other than you. The decision to start your journey to a healthier lifestyle—whether to lose weight or avoid chronic diseases, should be because you love and give importance to yourself, not because society pressures you to do it. It would be specifically harder for you if your decision to start (again) being healthy is by the wills of others.
Because the greatest motivation lies within you, make yourself accountable—of every chip, you will eat, or every lazy day ‘I don’t wanna work out’ moment you will experience.

Jumpstart your day

The body’s natural processes are meant to start in the mornings—not when you choose to get up. We all know how hard can it be to leave the bed, but you just have to do it. Prepare everything before you go to bed the night before. Pick your workout wear, shoes, or pack your gym bag so it will not make you lazier to step out and sweat.

Throw away temptation

If there are chips readily available in your pantry, or leftover pizza waiting to be glorified again, chances are you will give in to temptation. Saying no to them may be hard, so better to give or throw them away—and never buy them again next time.

Get yourself an accountability buddy

This is also one way of creating accountability. Find someone who has the same goals (which is to be healthy) and be each others’ motivational push.

Closing Time

Set a time frame when you can’t go to the kitchen, preferably after dinner. You can do this for a week or two and notice your eating habits change.

Reward yourself…

Not with food or cheat days, but with pampering and services on your body, like a massage or a scrub. Consider this a pat on the back, and also as a prize as well. You can also buy a new pair of running shoes, or an extra set of gym wear when you reach a goal.

And remember how happy that made you feel, and strive to stick to your routines to feel that happiness again.

These may all be simple steps, but if done constantly and continuously, your body will reap the rewards of helping you transition back to your lost healthy lifestyle. Just remember not to be too hard on yourself because it is normal to stay away from the habits that are not fully embedded in us—like working out daily, or choosing to eat healthy all the time.

You are allowed to be tempted but stick to your goals this time. Keep in mind that every time you chose to give in to temptation, you drop every minute you spent in the gym, every sweat you broke and it will be harder the next time. So don’t stray away once you’ve established a routine!

Edited by Maria Craddock
&
SOURCES:

• http://mariashriver.com/blog/2011/09/10-tips-getting-back-track-after-fitness-break/
• http://chrismccombs.net/how-to-make-the-comeback-of-your-life/
• http://jamesclear.com/get-back-on-track
• http://backontrackfitness.com.au/how-to-get-back-on-track-after-a-fitness-break/

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

1 pound (454 grams) ground lean turkey breast (raw)
1 cup onion, diced
1/2 cup green pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp yellow mustard
1/4 cup natural ketchup
1 8 oz can no-salt added tomato sauce
1 Tbsp BBQ sauce
1-2 packets Stevia (optional if you want it on the sweeter side)

Directions:

Mist a skillet with oil and brown raw turkey, onions, and green pepper over medium heat.  (You can skip this step but you will get a better flavor).

Place turkey meat, onions, and green pepper in slow cooker. Add all the other ingredients and mix well.

Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.  If you don't brown the meat first then cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.

Serve with a whole grain bun or toast. Picture is with an Ezekiel hamburger bun. For gluten free use Udi's gluten free whole grain hamburger buns (or any type of your choice).

21 Day Fix = 1 Red, 1 Yellow, 1/2 Green, and 1 Purple.



Via Skinny Ms

What's In Your Water?

Not everybody has a taste for water, but we all need it to ensure that our bodies continue functioning properly. If you want to drink more water, but aren't crazy about the taste (or lack thereof), here are some tips that can make it more enjoyable:   

• Add fresh fruit. Citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, and oranges, are classic water enhancers, but other fruit flavors might also tempt your taste buds. Try crushing fresh raspberries or watermelon into your water, or adding strawberry slices. Cucumber and fresh mint are refreshing flavors as well — especially in summer.

 

• Use juice. Any fruit juice can be a good base flavor for water, but tart juices, like cranberry, pomegranate, grape, and apple, are especially delicious. Go for juices that are all natural, with no added sugars. And remember: Fruits and their juices don't just taste good — they contain vitamins and antioxidants that can benefit your health too.
• Make it bubbly. Many people prefer sparkling to still water. If plain old water isn't inspiring to you, try a naturally effervescent mineral water — which will give you the added benefit of minerals. Or try bubbly seltzer, a carbonated water. You can add fresh fruit or natural juice flavors to your seltzer, as suggested above, or look for naturally flavored seltzers at your local market. If you become a seltzer devotee, you might want to consider getting a seltzer maker for your home.

 

• Get creative with ice. Some say that ice water tastes better than water served at room temperature. If that's so, flavored ice cubes may make an even better drink. Use some of the flavoring suggestions above and start experimenting with fresh fruit, mint, or cucumber ice cubes. Simply chop your additive of choice, add it to your ice cube tray along with water, then freeze. You may also consider juice, tea, or coffee cubes. If you want to be more creative, use ice cube trays that come in fun shapes, like stars, circles, or even fish.

 

• Drink tea. Herbal, fruit, green, white, and red teas are generally considered to be better for you than black teas (or coffee, for that matter) because they contain little to no caffeine. And there are countless flavors of these teas to choose from. Start with the selection at your local market or health food store. If you're interested in pursuing more exotic flavors and sophisticated teas, start researching the vast array of specialty teas that come from all parts of the globe.

 

• Try bouillons, broths, and consommés. If your palate leans toward the savory, you may pass on tea and start sipping one of these hot and savory liquids instead. Choose low-fat and low-sodium versions for maximum health benefits. Because soup is water-based, a cup of hot soup will count toward your daily fluid consumption.

  Via Jen Laskey
Edited By Maria Craddock

I was wondering why I don't sweat like others..........

I have really never been a big sweater....and yesterday as I ran I saw my neighbor and we were going the same pace and same distance but he was drenched.  I was thinking hey, am I not pushing hard enough, can I go a little harder?  I did for about 2 miles and still no change. Odd!!!  I ran 7 miles and was barely wet but when I stop, BAM there comes the sweat, so weird!!!!  I worked out this morning, 17 minutes of hard cardio and an Ab routine and I was sweating a lot for me, back, chest, and face were "wet"!  I have been wanting to look into this for a while but keep forgetting, so today I found an article from Jillian Michaels' Blog, pretty interesting and I feel much better about my lack of sweat!!!

About Sweat

Your body is constantly producing heat. The heat radiates out through the skin most of the time. However, when your body is working hard, contracting muscles as you exercise, some of the heat is absorbed by the water in your blood, which then rises to the surface of the skin through sweat glands. It then evaporates and creates a cooling effect.

Everybody's Different

Everyone doesn’t sweat the same. Women tend to sweat less than men and usually require higher temperatures than what would cause men to sweat. Women also sweat less as they grow older because their sweat glands shrink and are less sensitive, according to the "Daily Mail Online." Fitness level and environmental factors can also contribute to the amount you sweat.

Myths

Perspiration is not an indicator of a losing weight. “You don’t have to sweat to get a good workout, and exercising in higher temperatures and humidity can be dangerous,” Gerald Endress, an exercise physiologist and fitness director at the Duke University Diet and Fitness Center told MSNBC. Many people wear lots of layers hoping to sweat off the pounds, but that doesn’t mean they are losing fat any faster. It means they are sweating more and, the more you sweat, the more water you need to take in to stay hydrated. Keeping clothes on because you think it’s better to sweat makes you uncomfortable and puts you at risk of dangerously overheating.

Anhidrosis

Anhidrosis, also called hypohidrosis, is an absence of sweating. Those who wish they could avoid the gross factor linked to sweating might consider anhidrosis a plus, but not being able to perspire could be uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening. Sweat acts as your body’s coolant and, without it, the body can suffer from heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Anhidrosis can be caused by certain drugs or medications, nerve damage, clogged sweat ducts, skin injuries or may be an inherited condition. If you feel you might be suffering from anhidrosis, speak with your doctor.


Via: Jillian Michaels Blog, Edited by Maria Craddock

Shakeology Mug Cake!

Shakeology Mug Cake!

So I am going to just shoot it straight! Anyone who knows me knows I have a killer sweet tooth and I love anything chocolate! I have a hard time passing it up! I am in the mood for a snack so I whipped up this bad boy! It satisfied the need for something sweet and I didn’t kill my healthy eating! I am very aware that when you heat up Shakeology it does take away some of the nutritional value, but I already had my shake for the day so its ok! I’m totally cool with it! You gotta give this a try!!!

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 tsp baking powder
1 scoop Shakeology
1 tbs sweetener of your choice {optional}
dash of salt
1 egg
2 or 3 tbs water/milk

**Optional mix in: peanut butter, cocoa powder

In a mug mix Shakeology, baking powder, salt, cocoa, and sweetener. Next, mix in an egg and 2-3 tablespoons of water/milk. If you want it to be more moist then add a little more water. Mix until dry ingredients are wet. If you’d like to add peanut butter, put one dollop in the center and push it down a bit. Microwave for 90 sec. If you do 55 seconds it will be a little more gooey on the inside. When it is done the edges will pull from the sides.

The peanut butter was the topper for sure!!

Benefits Of Ginger Root

10 Health Benefits of Ginger

 

Ginger comes in two primary forms – fresh and ground. Ground is generally easier to incorporate into a recipe, while fresh ginger allows you to do much more. Whatever ginger you choose, you can count on it doing great things for your health. The root is packed full of different vitamins, minerals and compounds that help your body grow and repair itself, and your brain stay in tip-top shape.

As one of the healthiest and arguably tastiest spices you can use, these top ten health benefits might make you consider using it in more recipes at home.


1. Medicinal use

Ginger has a long history of being used in lots of medicinal treatments, and that doesn’t mean it’s one of those ingredients used in nonsensical medicine. The root or stem known as the rhizome is packed with phenolic compounds that helps improve your digestive system, when consumed regularly. It is also able to reduce the feeling of nausea, and bolster your body’s immune system to combat the common cold, flu and other similar problems. If you’re feeling bad, you can count on ginger to perk you up!


2. Reduce morning sickness

As well as reducing the feeling of nausea, ginger is particularly effective at reducing the effect of morning sickness in pregnant women. The root has been used for many years to help reduce this feeling, and it can be taken in a number of forms. Ginger tea is particularly effective, as is any food or drink that uses extracts of ginger to provide its unique flavor and boost of minerals and bioactive compounds.

Ginger has even been used to help cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy. This treatment is known to cause nausea and sickness, and ginger is extremely effective in making these patients feel more comfortable.


3. Helps reduce muscle discomfort

Studies have shown that those who consume even as little as 2 grams of ginger every day for at least 11 days will experience reduced pain of up to 25% in their muscles. The test was conducted with participants performing elbow exercises, but it is believed that ginger will help reduce muscle pain and inflammation with any kind of exercise. This makes it a perfect food or ingredient for anybody who engages regularly in exercise.


4. Help ease osteoarthritis

With its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger has shown that it can help ease the effects of osteoarthritis. Studies have been performed that show how ginger reduces pain, and can even stop patients from requiring excessive pain medication, making this a fantastic natural alternative to man-made chemicals and drugs. The inflammation of joints (the cause of arthritis) can actually be reduced, and stiffness eased, by consuming even small amounts of ginger each day.


5. Fight infections

Gingerol is a bioactive compound found within ginger, and the main component in its infection-fighting abilities. When consuming ginger, you can help stop the growth of a number of kinds of bacteria, making it great for those who want to keep their immune system working well, as well as those who wish to fight away a number of illnesses and infections (including yeast infections, gum inflammation and even the likes of gingivitis).

It’s also been found that due to ginger’s anti-viral properties is can be effective in fighting the RSV virus, which is known to be a major cause of infections within the respiratory system.

 

 

6. Protects against Alzheimer’s disease

The high levels of antioxidants (gingerol, curcumin and zingerone) in ginger have been found to be an effective natural treatment in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. This is a disease that sees the brain aging quickly and memory loss accelerated. By consuming ginger the antioxidants have been shown to inhibit and even reverse the deposition of plaques in the brain which are associated with Alzheimer’s.

In addition it has been proven that consuming ginger extracts can actually improve memory, attention and cognitive function in middle-aged women.

 

 

7. Aids the fight against cancer

You hear this about every food these days, but ginger really is a wonder food when it comes to the fight against cancer. In a study that involved 30 people, it was found that just 2 grams of ginger extract each day can reduce the amount of molecules in the colon that signal inflammation. There have also been studies that show how ginger can help reduce the chances of developing ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer. More research is required for complete evidence, but it’s widely understood that the antioxidant circumin has been shown to interfere with cell signaling pathways, which suppresses the growth of cancer cells, while other antioxidants in ginger decrease inflammation, a factor in many cancers.


8. Lower blood cholesterol

Ever been told to reduce your levels of bad cholesterol by your doctor? Don’t turn to expensive and possibly damaging chemical pills – instead choose to improve your health and include more ginger in your diet. Studies have shown that ginger can reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood by activating an enzyme by increasing your body’s use of cholesterol and therefore lowering it. It may also help blood from clotting and prevent heart attacks or strokes.

Incorporating ginger into home recipes or drinking ginger tea, can help reduce your cholesterol levels with very little effort!

 

 

9. Reduce menstrual cramp pains

Pain relief is one of the original uses of ginger in medicine, and menstrual pain can be significantly reduced using ginger in its raw or powder form. Studies have shown that even just 1 gram of ginger powder consumed each day, during the first three days of the menstruation period, can significantly reduce the pain that comes with it due to its anti-inflammatory and inhibitory properties. In fact, the effect that ginger has is just as strong as many over-the-counter drugs, including ibuprofen.

So remember, consuming ginger generally can help improve your general health, but consuming it early in the menstrual will help reduce pain and let you live your life as normal!

 

 

10. Reduce indigestion pain

Ginger is known to stimulate digestive juices and the flow of enzymes to aid digestion of food. Its anti-inflammatory properties and presence of antioxidants provide relief from pain and ensure that large meal does not keep repeating on you! Between one and two grams of ginger can help aid digestion and avoid discomfort and cramps.


Via: Daily Natural Remedies

 

 

Sugar Alcohol

 

I recently tried a new protein bar and ran into this "sugar alcohol" for the first time!!! I was totally unaware of it!!  I will be avoiding this from now on!

If you eat protein bars, or low sugar foods, you’ve probably seen sugar alcohol listed among the ingredients in many popular brands.  Sugar alcohols are found most commonly in food products labeled “sugar-free,” including hard candies, cookies, chewing gums, and soda, but have recently become very popular in “health foods”. Do you really know what you’re consuming? Is sugar alcohol bad for you? The short answer to the latter question is “no”, sugar alcohol is not bad for you, but it is not intrinsically healthy either.

What Is Sugar Alcohol?

Sugar alcohol gets its name because of its molecular structure, which is a hybrid between a sugar molecule and an alcohol molecule. Biochemically speaking, sugar alcohols are structurally similar to sugar but are either poorly digested (e.g., maltitol), or poorly metabolized (e.g., erythritol).
Sugar alcohol has grown in popularity as a “sugar replacement” in foods such as protein bars because they contain few calories, minimally impact insulin levels, are safe for those with diabetes, and are better for your teeth.

Here’s a list of some popular sugar alcohols so you can identify them when you look at a nutrition label:

• Erythritol
• Maltitol
• Hydrogenated starch hydrolysates
• Isomalt
• Lactitol
• Mannitol
• Sorbitol
• Xylitol

The two major sugar alcohols found in protein bars and most low sugar foods are maltitol and erythritol, which are explored in more detail below.

Sugar Alcohol #1: Maltitol

Maltitol, the more popular of the two, has only 2.1 kilocalories per gram (compared to 4 for sugar) and is comprised of glucose and sorbitol (see image on right).

Only 80% as sweet as sugar, maltitol has 47% fewer calories…and won’t rot your teeth! The downside of maltitol is its poor absorption. In high doses, it will cause a laxative effect (i.e., diarrhea). This isn’t a concern in protein bars with less than 20 grams, but down a couple of the bars with over 20 grams and you might spend the afternoon in the restroom; fortunately, most companies are listing sugar alcohols directly on the label.
If “sugar alcohols” aren’t listed as a separate category under carbohydrates, check the ingredients list. You shouldn’t have to look very far because sugar alcohols will be one the first ingredients on the list.

Safety & Metabolic Effects of Maltitol

One study estimated the maximal safe dose to be 30 grams. 40 grams caused very mild GI upset, but still no diarrhea. Furthermore, if you’re watching your weight, take comfort in the fact that maltitol causes minimal insulin secretion. This is important for maintaining blood sugar, which is a significant factor in controlling your body’s hunger. In the figure to your right, the response to 50 grams of either glucose (solid lines) or maltitol (dashed lines) is shown.

For the record: 1) 50 grams is far more than what is found in any food products; and 2) these volunteers exhibited no side effects to 50 grams of maltitol, suggesting that the 30 gram limit mentioned above might be person-specific (i.e., some people can tolerate more than others).

Last but not least, maltitol promotes healthy gut bacteria!

Sugar Alcohol #2: Erythritol

Erythritol, another popular sugar alcohol, is: 1) virtually calorie-free (0.2 kcal/g); 2) not a laxative; and 3) still 70% as sweet as sugar.

Erythritol is used in foods because its physical properties mimic sugar. It’s not more widely used because it has a slight cooling effect, kind of like mint, which is undesirable in some foods. This can be countered by the addition of inulin, a super-fiber that promotes healthy gut bacteria and I suspect companies who are trying to reduce the carbs in their protein bars will be doing more of this in the future…less sugar and more super-fiber, what more could you ask for?

Safety & metabolic effects of Erythritol

Erythritol lacks maltitols laxative and pro-gut bacteria effects because it is almost completely absorbed (~90%).

One group looked at the insulin response to a chocolate snack containing either erythritol or sugar. The figure to your right has been color-coded and edited for simplicity. Red = 24 grams of sugar; blue = 48 grams of erythritol.

After breakfast (Time = -2 h), which was identical in both groups, insulin went up to a similar degree confirming that subjects in both groups had a normal insulin response. After the snack (Time = 0 h), however, insulin only increased in the subjects who ate the sugar-containing chocolate (red line).

And at twice the dose, the erythritol-containing chocolate snack was probably much sweeter. As mentioned above, unlike maltitol, erythritol has no GI side effects… it’s almost completely absorbed. But the other half of the story is that it is excreted almost completely intact (it’s not metabolized by the body, which accounts for its lack of calories). Did I forget to mention erythritol has virtually no calories?

So Should You Eat Sugar Alcohol?

While sugar alcohol might be better for you than actual sugar (what wouldn’t be?) it is still not intrinsically healthy. If you’ve got an insatiable craving for something sweet, sugar alcohols are the lesser evil, but in terms of healthy-eating, you would be much better off grabbing a piece of fruit than downing a protein bar full of this stuff.

Via BuiltLean and editied by Maria Craddock