Live Well 360

This is just a quick post to say that I found an awesome fitness bag company called Live Well 360. It's almost too late to enter, but you can enter a giveaway here.

I'm hoping to win one! It looks pretty sweet.

Quick Update

After considering the idea of being vegan for a month, we have decided to wait until a later date when it can be better planned for. Maybe June. It will be better that way; we still have a lot of food that will go bad if we stop eating it now.

This month is going to be a good month for my blog. After this week, I'll have a lot less on my mind and will be able to concentrate more on it. I'll be registering my own domain and will have more control over what my blog looks like. It's going to be a fun project.

For now, I'll see you in about a week!

Being Vegan?

I know that many health bloggers are vegetarian or vegan. I profess to be neither. I don't eat red meat very often, but I eat fish at least once a week, yogurt almost every day, eggs, cheese, etc. My husband (find him at The Breakup Note) yesterday told me that he wants to perform an experiment of living as a vegan for the month of May. You may or may not know that my husband does the majority of the cooking in our household (and by majority, I mean all (except for when I bake)). I'm slowly learning the secrets to good cooking, but he's a better cook than me anyways. This being said, however he eats, I eat. So if he decides to be a vegan, guess what I'm going to be? That's right.

I don't really have too many qualms about going vegan, especially if it's only going to be for a month. My biggest problem will be not having yogurt. It's ridiculous how much I love yogurt. Seriously. So, going without yogurt for a month will be akin to cruel and unusual punishment for me. But I suppose I could do it. I've considered being a vegetarian before, but I really don't think there's anything wrong with having red meat once in a while. I believe the only real reason to commit to being a vegan would be for animal rights. I do believe that animals should be treated ethically. I believe they should be raised free-range and allowed to eat what God intended for them to eat, but I don't think that there's any reason to not eat them.

So...to be vegan or not to be? This is the question. I have a feeling it's going to happen next month though.

Have you ever considered being vegan? Are you vegan? Why?

Some Silence

As you may be able to tell, I'm really trying to pay more attention to my blog and do more with it. But, for a few days I'm going to be blog silent. I'm studying for a somewhat difficult exam that I must pass. Therefore, all my extra time will be spent doing that until it's over. Hopefully by this weekend I'll be back at it.

Thanks to all my readers!

<3

Getting a Domain

So, readers, I'm considering investing in my own domain. I need to come up with a good name for it though, which is going to be hard. First of all, I have to come up with something that isn't already taken and is also something that relates to me personally. My blog doesn't really have one specific idea; it's all about health and fitness and real food.

Maybe you can help me come up with something good. Comment with your ideas; I know I have some clever friends, so maybe you can help me.

Thank you for reading. You make my blog worth while. <3 you all

Sugar-Free Apple Pie Muffins

Earlier today I found a recipe for whole wheat apple muffins and tweaked it around a little so it would be sugar-free and also replaced the butter with olive oil. Also, I added a few spices to make it taste more like apple pie. Here is what I put together, and I think they turned out pretty well:

Ingredients:
1c whole wheat flour
1c all-purpose flour (I used King Arthur's Organic)
1tsp baking powder
1tsp baking soda
1tbs cinnamon
1/2tbs nutmeg
pinch allspice
2tbs olive oil (replacing the butter)
1tsp stevia (to replace sugar)
3tsp honey
1/2c almond milk (original, unsweetened)(or another milk of your choice)
1/2c nonfat yogurt (plain, organic if possible)
1 egg
2 apples, cored and chopped

Preheat oven to 450*
Mix flours, powder, soda, spices, and stevia in one bowl. In another bowl, combine oil, honey, milk, yogurt, and egg and mix lightly. Stir in dry ingredients and fold in apples. If your batter is too dry, add small amounts of oil until it is wet enough to mix.
Grease a muffin pan with olive oil and place mixture in. If desired, top with almond slivers and LIGHTLY drizzle agave before baking. Bake at 450* for 10 minutes, then turn heat down to 400* and bake for 5-10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean.
Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes, then remove from muffin pan and allow to cool for 5-10 more minutes.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Agave: The Nectar of the Gods

Image via WikipediaI have a new love in the realm of food. It is a plant-based syrup-like sweetener, comparable to honey. It is known as agave nectar. For some reason, I'd been under the impression that agave is a cactus, when it is really more like the aloe plant. The nectar is gathered by cutting out a flower shoot on the plant. It can also be fermented and is used to make tequila. Just thinking about it makes me want a margarita.

Why do I love agave so much? Well, for one, it is delicious. Also, it is a little sweeter than honey or sugar and thus you use less of it (the same goes for stevia). It has a low glycemic index which means that it is absorbed slowly into your blood stream and won't dramatically spike your blood sugar.

Agave is my new sweetener of choice for food. I love to use it in my snacks such as a fruit and yogurt bowl, and it's also my favorite pancake topping. I don't have to use much to sweeten a dish. A small container of agave nectar can last a few weeks if you use it correctly. It's also a great sugar substitute for cooking and baking. I included it in some banana bread I made last week and it was incredible! I'm going to attempt some sugar-free cookies with agave soon. If they turn out well, I'll give you all a recipe to try!

Have you tried agave and, if so, how do you like it?

Healthful Pursuit Cookie Giveaway

I don't know if anyone looks at my blog roll very frequently, but there is a blog on there called The Healthful Pursuit. It's a great resource for healthy living. They're offering a free cookie giveaway, so I'm linking it here.

New posts will be coming soon, I promise!

The Parallels between Health and Spirituality

The journey to getting your body healthy can be compared to a spiritual journey. When you first commit yourself to becoming healthy, just like when you commit yourself to God, you have to clear out your life of all the junk. It's possibly the hardest part of the journey. You have to let go of those things that tie you down; those things you've been so used to having in your life for so long. You have to accept the fact that they are poison to your body, your mind, and your soul. You have to throw them away with no mercy.

Then, once you've cleared out the junk you must develop a plan of action to make sure that stuff doesn't come creeping back in. Before you become adjusted to not indulging anymore, temptation will be everywhere and will seem irresistible. Those sights, sounds and smells will drive you to the brink of insanity. Sometimes you will need to avoid it altogether in order to stay strong. This might mean not going out with your friends or being ridiculed for your decisions. You may be challenged by people you used to think understood you. One small action such as saying "no thank you" to a doughnut (or any other temptation) will invite spiteful words from "well-meaning" friends and family.

Another step you must take is to learn where to get the things your body or soul needs. In your spiritual journey, you look to the Bible and people of faith, putting out the effort to research the things you need to know. In the same way, during your health journey you must step outside your comfort zones and do the legwork to find out what you should and shouldn't eat; and where you should and shouldn't shop. You need to venture into areas of the grocery store you've never seen. You visit shops and produce stands you've never heard of. In the long run, all that effort pays off and you end up having all kinds of exciting adventures.

Again, a parallel step between the two journeys is to find a mentor. Having someone who has gone through what you're going through and who can advise you as you go is invaluable. In your spiritual walk, you look to someone older and wiser and who has had similar experiences in their journey. In your health journey, it simply needs to be someone who has been at it longer than you have. It also helps if they live in your area and can tell you where to find good food products. This step is one of the most important. When you feel lost or stuck, this person can often point you in the right direction and give you a gentle shove towards it.

Another very important step is exercise. For your body, you simply get your heart rate up for at least 30 minutes, 3-5 times a week. As you progress, however, exercise becomes longer and more intense. In the same way, as you grow spiritually, you accept more responsibility for yourself as well as for others. Just as you push your body in order to see good changes, you push your mind to read more every day and study and become grounded. Pushing yourself is hard and challenging and others may think you're crazy for it, but you know the changes that are happening inside so it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Whatever journey you're on now, be it physical, spiritual, or both, make sure that you are taking the steps to progress. It may seem daunting and impossible and you may be receiving criticism from people around you, but you will see results from pushing on. Do your research, find an accountability partner, and never give up. You're not missing out on anything by saying "no" to temptation. In fact, you're becoming a better person for it and eventually the people who are trying to tear you down will see the difference in you and want to know your secret. Don't hesitate to share it with them, even if they're the ones that made you miserable when you first made the changes. The amount of growth you will experience is worth every moment.

Hip Hop Abs

Well I'm currently in week 3 of the Hip Hop Abs program by Beachbody. It's a lot of fun, easy to do, and very effective. I thought I was done losing weight, but since I've been using Hip Hop Abs I've lost about another four or five pounds. I can see my abs toning up too. After tomorrow, I'll only have a week left of it. A good friend of mine is doing it with me, which has helped motivate me to do it every day (it's six days a week for four weeks).

Once I'm done with Hip Hop Abs I plan on starting TurboFire. It's a very intense interval training 90-day program. It uses the same system as Insanity, (high intensity interval training) but it isn't quite as hard as Insanity. I'm really looking forward to it though. Now that I'm at my target weight and in good shape, I think I'll be able to tone up quite nicely. I'll also finish it right before my trip to California, so I'll definitely be ready for the beach!

Sorry for the short blog today; I need to get back into the blogging habit.

Sorry, Folks

Yes, I have been quite behind on my blogging lately. I've been a little caught up in some stuff. I apologize. I'm not going to vow to start writing every day again. I'm still in the middle of a lot of things. I'll update you as soon as everything comes together.

Thanks for your patience with me.

Coffee: Good or Bad?

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Per request, today's blog topic will be the health benefits/concerns of coffee as they are known to me. As you all know, I do drink coffee, though I try to stick to one or two cups per day. I believe that drinking this amount balances out what may be good or bad about it.

First off I will begin by saying that research is a bit inconclusive about how bad or good coffee is for your health. One study suggests that regular coffee consumption can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver, and gout. Also, people who regularly drink coffee during their midlife are less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer's disease in their late life. However, coffee can also increase the risk of acid reflux and related diseases.

The main health benefit of coffee that I'm familiar with is the antioxidants it contains. Antioxidants aid in protecting cells from damage by free radicals in the environment. Coffee also contains polyphenals which interfere with iron absorption. So, if you are prone to anemia, this could be an adverse affect for you. However, since iron is considered a carcinogen to the liver, coffee can be associated with decreasing risk for liver cancer.

The most negative thing about coffee is caffeine. For a more in-depth look at caffeine, see my blog post on it. Caffeine draws moisture out of your body, so to avoid risk of dehydration make sure to drink at least one glass of water per cup of coffee. Caffeine is linked to decreasing headaches, yet those who consume it regularly can then develop headaches from lack of it (during withdrawal). Caffeine is also considered an antidepressant. It can block inhibitory affects of adenosine on dopamine nerves in the brain.

This is about all I know about coffee right now. I drink it every day in moderation. You can take this information and make your own decision about how much coffee you want to drink.

Fast Food is Plague upon America

Fast food is a plague upon our nation. Here is an excerpt of an article by Leanne Ely, the "dinner diva":

"One of the biggest issues is eating fast food. You know I'm down of fast food for anyone, but it's especially harmful for children's growing bodies. Think about it; you're giving the lowest quality food to a growing body. This isn't exactly quality material for the body to develop and build from! We wouldn't put a known, poor quality gasoline in our cars, nor would we build our houses with sub-par building supplies, yet we rationalize throwing absolute garbage food down our children's throats in the name of fast and easy."

With all of the information on the evils of fast food now available, you'd think that people would start to realize that it's literally killing them and their children. Research says that this is the first generation of children not expected to outlive their parents. Does that not bother anyone else? We need to get back to eating real food. This problem has to be fixed from the roots up. We're not going to make food companies stop selling crap. We just have to stop buying it.

Creating a Newsletter is Harder than it Looks

Well, I started creating my nutrition newsletter. There are so many ideas rolling around in my head, it's hard to figure out where to start. I know I want to talk about fast food and meat. Those are the main issues that have been on my mind lately. I know I also want to include a good, healthy recipe. Possibly two. One of them will be kid-friendly. At least one article in each newsletter will be catered toward child nutrition. Also, I'll probably include one exercise in each newsletter. I have a few people I'm thinking of hitting up to see if they want to put a piece in it. Well...enough brain-storming. I need to get back to it.

Don't Worry; Be Happy

I've noticed a recurring theme in things I've been reading lately. Namely: (1) Stress less and (2) Be happy.

I subscribe to a magazine called Natural Health. In this month's issue I read an article about the 10 secrets of people who never get sick. One of these secrets was to stress less. It's been said that laughter is the best medicine and, in many respects, that's true. People who are happy have less health problems. Stress can cause all number of health issues (sore muscles, tension, heart problems, etc). It's been proven that happy people live more healthy and fulfilling lives than those who are constantly stressed and/or unhappy.

To be honest, this is one of my weakest areas. I wouldn't say that I'm a pessimist, but sometimes I have to remind myself to smile. I don't laugh nearly as often as I should. I've really been trying lately, though. I have to keep telling myself not to take life too seriously. I often have little patience with those I'm closest with. It's a bad habit, and it's one I'm trying desperately to break. You only get one life, so you might as well be happy with it.

Some measures you can take to stress less are doing things that give you a sense of peace. Read, write, chat with a friend, pray, stretch, or do some relaxing Yoga poses. Today I started playing my guitar again. It was a real stress reliever. I think I'll need to start doing that more often.

What do you do to smile? What makes you the happiest? Do you consider yourself a generally happy person?

Another Raving Rant

I have a few things to say. I need to get them off my chest before I explode.

First of all, I'm getting fed up with the way that people do not care about what they're putting into their bodies. These are the most important, personal decisions you make throughout the day and no one takes it seriously. The food you eat and drink directly affects the way you feel physically, emotionally, and mentally. Why would you not take that seriously? "Oh, I can't live without my Mt. Dew." Yes, you can. In fact, once you get over some minor withdrawls, you'll feel much better!

Second, I'm also fed up with what people allow their children to eat and drink. People seem to think that children just have a high metabolism and are naturally active, so it doesn't really matter what they eat because they'll just burn it off. What children eat is so important! They need to learn healthy eating habits from a young age, or it'll be that much harder for them to learn later on in life. Children can develop health disorders just like adults can. They develop diabetes and become obese. Is that how children are supposed to live? They should be given every opportunity possible to have a wonderful childhood and food is a huge part of that!

Lastly, I'm fed up with whatever state organization it is that provides daycares with food policies and reimbursement money for food. Last year, they announced that they were changing the policies on food to be more healthy. They gave everyone a year to comply. Well, I took that as an opportunity to create a completely new and healthy menu for the children in our care. It was a big hit. Everyone was impressed and some of our parents were inspired to start eating healthier at home. Fast forward several months down the road and here I am, not being able to afford my new awesome menu. The state asks us to feed the children healthier but does not offer any raise in the amount of money they give us for food. How am I supposed to cope with this? What do they expect us to do?

Alright, I'm done ranting for the time being. If anyone has any information on grants that we could apply for, or anything that would give us more food money, don't hesitate to tell me.

Are you Eating Your Antibiotics?

I would like to share with you something that I learned today. Now, you've all heard me rant about mass-produced meat and how terrible it is. Well, did you realize that 80% of all antibiotics in the US are used for animal agriculture? Yes, that's correct. 80%! And do you know where all those antibiotics are going to end up? That's right. In your body. And, yes, I know your doctor gives you antibiotics when you're sick but I'm sure you also know that you can't take antibiotics for very long without your body becoming resistant to them. So, what happens when you eat lots of meat with lots of antibiotics in it? You can become resistant to many types of antibiotics.

Having too much antibiotics in your body can make you sick, and also keep you sick. Every year, more than 90,000 Americans die from bacterial infections that have developed a resistance to antibiotics. That's more than the death toll of AIDS, car accidents, and prostate cancer combined.  It kind of makes you sick just thinking about it, doesn't it?

Check out these links for more information and advice on how to avoid the meat that's making America sick:

Today's Food System: All Drugged Up

Find, Cook, and Eat Sustainable Meat

Child Nutrition and the Obesity Epidemic

I'm thinking about starting a newsletter about child nutrition and the obesity epidemic. This is a topic I've been thinking about a lot lately. I feel like I need to do something, but I just can't figure out what. It seems like a losing battle; no matter what anyone does, this epidemic never seems to get any better. If we can't get the parents to change their mindset, it never is going to get better. This is something that needs to be handled from the roots. Policies and school lunches are not going to teach parents how to feed their children and take nutrition seriously.

So, in an attempt to handle things from the ground up, I'm going to start a monthly newsletter. I'll gather facts and statistics and healthy kid-friendly recipes. Each month I'll try to find a new topic to cover. Maybe I'll poll people to see what they would like to learn about. Working at a daycare gives me an audience, and maybe HealthSmart will let me put the newsletters out on their little table by the door.

What kind of things would you want to read about in this type of newsletter?

Dr. Oz's 7-day Energy Surge

I don't watch much day time TV, but today I happened to watch Dr. Oz. One segment of his show today addressed the fact that 2/3 of American women are sleep-deprived. He offered a "7-day energy surge" to boost your energy levels for the rest of your life. I was happy to see that I'm already doing most of the things he recommended.

The first step is to make over your morning. When you first wake up, instead of just jumping out of bed, lay in bed and take a deep breath. Cover your eyes with your palms and massage your forehead with your fingers. Then, breathe in for six counts and out for six counts. Then, when you get up, turn on the lights to tell your body that it's time to wake up. Once you're up, eat a healthy and hearty breakfast. Make sure it's full of protein and fiber. One recommendation was to eat muesli. It's a cereal like oatmeal and is very nutrient-rich. I often eat this for breakfast and it really makes my mornings better.

The next step is to add certain vitamins into your diet. The two that were spoken of were magnesium and tyrosine. Here is a clip from Dr. Oz's website: "Magnesium activates enzymes that contribute to energy production and helps regulate the levels of important nutrients like calcium, copper, zinc, potassium and vitamin D. While you can get magnesium from foods like whole grains, nuts and leafy green vegetables, most Americans need a supplement to reach the recommended daily value: 400 mg magnesium with 600 mg calcium." Again, here is a clip from the website on tyrosine: "Tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid and a building block for the mood-enhancing neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. Chronic stress can deplete your level of tyrosine and contribute to feelings of exhaustion. Tyrosine supplements should be taken in 500 mg doses 3 times a day, at least 30 minutes before meals. For a super boost, open a 500 mg tyrosine capsule, place the powder under your tongue and let it dissolve. It has a chalk-like consistency that may be hard to swallow, so take water as needed."

The third step is to replace your afternoon pick-me-up with a shot of wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is a superfood that is full of antioxidants, stimulates metabolism, and alkalinilizes your body. If you can't find it fresh, it can be purchased in powder form. This is something I've never tried, but I know that it's good for you. I do plan on giving this a try in the near future, as well as the magnesium and tyrosine.

The fourth and final step is to make your sleep easy and restful. Listen to music for at least 45 minutes before your bed time. Turn your alarm clock away from you so you don't watch the clock as you're falling asleep. When you have to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, use a low night light. This way, your body won't wake up too much to fall back asleep quickly when you go back to bed.

Most of these things are things that I already do. I take supplements, but I want to try magnesium and tyrosine. I also want to try the afternoon shot of wheatgrass. I think my morning and before bed routines are pretty good right now, but I'm sure there's room for improvement.

What do you do to de-stress and energize yourself? Will you try the 7-day Energy Surge?

Today's Post a Day topic suggestion is: What would you do with a million dollars? I think I'll answer that since I really have nothing much to say today.

The first thing I would do is to pay off my remaining debt. Then I would move back to California and buy a nice house. I wouldn't buy a huge house though. I just want something that is nice and manageable. Then I would open some sort of business. It would probably be either a health food store or a gym/weight loss center. Or maybe even a combination of the two. Or, maybe it would be a health food store that offers weight loss and healthy living counseling. That sounds pretty cool.