Search results matching tag 'weight loss'

Anna's Healthy Breaky Tips!

Anna — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:42:00 GMT

Your momma was right!

Breakfast is the MOST important meal of the day. Eating after 6 or more hours of fasting (which is what is happening when you sleep) is absolutely key to maintaining a healthy body weight. Making breakfast a daily ritual will help set your metabolism (your fat-burning furnace) for the entire day, and help you refrain from those mid-morning junk food binges, or pulling into the first fast food drive in on your way to work in the morning.

Here are my top foods for a healthy breakfast that will contribute to energizing your day, helping you lose weight, and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Whole grainy goodness – Quinoa, kamut, spelt, amaranth or good old-fashioned oatmeal – all are extremely healthy examples of whole grains. Look for cereals that are organic. These are made with less preservatives and salt (yes, some cereals do contain a lot of salt), so be conscious of what your putting in your breakfast bowl.

Raise and shine to good fats - Sprinkle flaxseeds or walnuts on your oatmeal, and get a serving of Omega 3’s. These help maintain a healthy body weight, lubricate joints for less injury, and keep your hair and nails healthy, strong and shiny.

Make fruit a morning staple – Fresh is always best, but frozen will do! Berries such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries will spruce up your cereal with natural sugars (fructose), so you don’t have to use sugar or artificial sweeteners. A ½ cup of fresh or frozen fruit on your cereal serves up a bounty of natural antioxidants. When you’re buying frozen fruit, look for those with no sugar or syrup added.

Your morning protein punch! This is especially essential if you work out pre-breaky because protein will help your body recover and rebuild muscle faster after your workout. Try an egg white omelet or a cup of fruit and whole grain cereal mixed with low fat cottage cheese.

It’s a soy-o-day! If oatmeal or plain whole grain cereal is a bit dry for your liking, mix it with some soy milk. It will add a little moisture and flavor – you can buy soy milk flavored with vanilla or almond. You can also use it to make a healthy protein pancake.

What are your favorite, healthy breakfast options? Come on, share them with us...

Is there a difference between willpower and self-control?

Anna — Thu, 24 May 2007 10:00:00 GMT

Every once in a while we all need a bit of a self-evaluation - even good ol' Anna!

As soon as summer hits I make it a point to get outside more, eat more fresh produce and clean up any sluggish winter habits. Over the weekend a friend and I had a discussion about my so-called willpower - to workout regularly and stick by a fairly clean diet. Then this morning I uncovered a study by the Mayo Clinic in my latest edition of Oxygen magazine. According to Mayo researchers self-control is much more effective and different than willpower...who woulda known?

The folks at the Mayo Clinic lay it out like this:

Willpower is this: "I am going to a friend's BBQ this weekend and I'm making brownies for everyone else, but I'm just going to eat salad."

Self-control is this: "I am not going to make brownies because I will be too tempted by them. Instead I'll bring a fresh fruit tray and a healthy salad so I know there will be something that I can eat at the BBQ."

So I believe what they are saying is that willpower is stating you'll make a change, but not removing the temptations in your life; whereas self-control is making a change and taking action to make it happen (no brownies for fear of temptation). I think I'm going to take action and start focusing on self-control a little more so than just old fashioned willpower. You know, pre-making healthy meals so that I'm not stuck stopping at a convenience store, etc.

After all - I'm only human :p

Congrats to my friend Jim!

Anna — Fri, 18 May 2007 13:54:00 GMT

Good golly it’s Friday – and a long weekend to boot! So I wanted to end this glorious week on a positive note.

I have a friend named Jim that I’ve known since I was 6-years-old. Now just to give you an image of our history…this is the boy, who when I was given the job of crossing guard in Grade 5, used to run out in front of traffic to scare the crap out of me…as you can tell we have a long history of him tormenting the heck out of me. Well it’s been well over 25 years of friendship for us, and during this time Jimbo has had a mess of health ailments stacked up against him – heart problems, being overweight and then developing type II diabetes.

Well last week I met with Jim for coffee, he’s now started a very successful photography biz by the way, and he’s lost 40-pounds! And better yet, he tells me that he feels better than he ever has in his whole life, and what's even more inspring is that he says he's taking risks with love and business, thanks to his newfound self-esteem, that he would have never had the courage to do in the past. What caused this transformation in my friend? Well it all started with him adopting a healthy diet, and doing a combination of strength training and cardio workouts to help manage his diabetes. And good news, last week his doctor cut his diabetes medication in half. The doc told him that if he loses 20 more pounds he’ll be off the meds forever, and he'll be able to control his diabetes with diet alone.

So I use today’s blog to congratulate my friend Jim. I’m proud of you buddy! And I hope his story inspires you, in some way, to take control of your health.

What are the sodium-rich culprits in your diet?

Anna — Thu, 17 May 2007 10:00:00 GMT

Your doctor has given you a stern warning – cut down the sodium in your diet! So you start adding just a pinch of salt to your vegetables at dinner time. You think you’ve cut the sodium in your diet in ½ right?

Wrong!

Unbeknownst to you, the processed foods in your diet contribute a whopping 77 percent more sodium to your daily diet – and that’s even before you added that pinch of salt!

True, your body does require a certain amount of sodium to function properly. Essential sodium maintains the fluid levels in your body by replacing vital electrolytes after you sweat them out during rigorous activity. It also helps muscles relax and contract, and it aids kidney function. However, when you consume too much sodium, the body begins to store it in your bloodstream, making your heart and kidneys work harder – which can eventually result in kidney or heart disease.

According to the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, sodium levels, for an average healthy adult, should not exceed 1,500 to 2,400 milligrams per day – less if you are over 50-years of age, or if you have diabetes or an existing heart or kidney condition.

Keep your eyes peeled for the following sodium-rich culprits:

Processed foods – such as crackers, chips, pickles, canned vegetables and soup, lunch meats and
Condiments – such as margarine, butter, mayonnaise ketchup, pasta sauces, soy sauces and dressings.
Meats – especially red meats and meats like bacon and ham tend to be higher in sodium.

So how do you cut the sodium in your diet? Consume a diet largely made up of fresh foods.

Jessica Alba supports teen girls' self-esteem

Anna — Tue, 15 May 2007 14:33:00 GMT

Good Tuesday morning FitnessGear101 friends! I'm back today - after a day's absence spent fighting the evil flu bug. You'll be happy to know that this morning I'm 40% snotty mess and 60% fitness diva! Must get blog up...sniffle...ok back to business...

I know that I spend a lot of time criticizing the media and celebrity stereotypes in this blog, but sometimes...just sometimes...a Hollywood star does some good in the world. Who, you might ask? Well In Style Magazine reported that Fantastic Four star Jessica Alba has put her money towards promoting the self-esteem of 8 teen girls. Last fall, 28-year-old Alba donated $1,500 a month to Step Up Women's Network, a national organization that encourages strong self-esteem and body image for underpriviledged teen girls through a variety of supportive mentorship programs.

Now that's what I call using your superpowers for good!

Check out these great Problogger posts - Day 3

Anna — Thu, 10 May 2007 14:24:00 GMT

Happy Thursday fitness freaks!

I have some great health and fitness-related posts from the Problogger writing project to share with you today. I will be sharing Problogger submissions with you until tomorrow (Friday), when I will choose my own Top 5 faves.

Top 5 Special Health Tips -Part 1 by Doris Chua
Top 5 Reasons Why I Will Never Be Able To Get Rid Of My Beer Belly. by Ah Pek
Top 5 Ways To Stop Being a Perfectionist by Krista
Top Five to Do While You Live by Mark
Five ways Shiatsu has changed my life by Tony Brown
Top 5 Ways To Define Your Own Personal Style by Gala Darling
Fly Fish Fanatics Five Fabulous Flies by Rick Passek
Top 5 DC Things To Do This Summer by Francoise Galleto
Top 5 Physical Therapist Recommended Body Hacks by Eric Robertson
5 Top Ways to Jumpstart Your Brain in the Morning by Ellen Weber
5 Simple Strategies For Stress Management by Robert Monteux
Start your days with 5 new positive habits by Tantowi
The Top 5 Reasons to Get Even Leaner by Alexander Becker
Top 5 things I would do if I could by Hailsky
The Top 5 Things That Make Me Run by Tom O’Leary
the top 5 reasons to change your life right now by sven
Top 5 Different Workout Approaches by Men and Women in the Gym by Mun
Top Five Ways To Creatively Acheive Your Goal by Lexi Sundell
Top 5 Bathing Suit Trends for Summer 2007 by Briana
Top 5 Things To Do On A 5 Minute Break by Pat Gundry
Make Your Children Healthier by Feeding Them More Sugar by Allen Holman
Top 5, Mind, Body and Spirit Books, by Talia
How to Find the Person of your Dreams
Top 5 Different Workout Approaches by Men and Women in the Gym by Mun

Also, check out these other non-fitness-related, but equally excellent posts:

The Top 5 Web Sites for a Deserted Island by Nick
Five gems: what makes a good pub? by Michael Scott
Definitive Guide for Geeks to Time Pass at Work by Ashwin
Top 5 Celebrity Heroes by Matt Langdon
The top 5 music video parodies by Roberta
5 Cool Things You Can Do With Your DNA by Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD
The Top 5 Ways to Become a Millionaire by Jeremy
Five actors who can read me the phone book by Corie
5 Superhuman Powers I would like to have by Mjuboy
Top 5 Reasons Why American Idol Lost Sanjaya by James Pegram
Top 5 Not-So Boring Hobbies by Nathan Metzger
Top 5 - Serial Sci-Fi by Steven Currie
Top 5 Ways For a College Student to Get a Job after Graduation by Justin Driscoll
Hybrid Electric Cars, The Top Five by Mike
Top 5: Mid-Life Myths by Sherri Caldwell - The Rebel Housewife
Top Five Predictions for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by Steve
Stupid Is As Stupid Does by Sean McKee
Top 5 Reasons Why We Travel by Timen
Top 5 Spanish Tapas by Matthew Bennett
Top 5 Reasons Boys are Better Than Girls by mom
Top 5 Things About My Ex by Katie Baird
Top 5 Moments in Classic Rock by Adam Ferguson
5 Gifts for Mom That Won’t Ever Go Out of Fashion by ispf
5 Steps to Pimp Your Mac Desktop by Jon-Michael St. Amant
Top 5 Web Messengers to Access Yahoo Messenger on the Web

I’d like to thank everyone who has linked to my post so far – I feel the link love :p

The Top 5 Ways Exercise Will Get You Laid!

Anna — Tue, 08 May 2007 19:45:00 GMT

The similarities between a sweaty workout and a sweaty romp in the bedroom are undeniable! Come on, the heavy breathing, pounding heart rate and the magnificent afterglow. You can’t deny that exercise and sex cause our bodies to respond in very similar ways. So would it surprise you if I claimed that one (exercise) will actually improve your performance of the other (sex)?

It’s no surprise that regular exercise goes a long way in keeping us healthy. Well that definitely extends to our sexual health as well. And when it really comes down to it, working out and sex are 2 extra-curricular activities that are more intimately coupled than we realize.

So here are my Top 5 reasons why exercise encourages better sexual health:

Lifting weights is just like sex – Pumping iron at the gym gets the testosterone and blood circulating…and it hurts...in that good sorta way! Now I don’t have a medical degree, but I’ll go out on a scientific limb here with this little equation: increased testosterone + increased blood flow = larger libido. Eureka!
Exercise boosts sexual arousal – Researchers at the University of Texas examined the sexual response of both females and males after vigorous physical activity. They found that 3 to 5 sessions of regular exercise per week actually prepared the body for sexual activity and improved sexual performance.
Sex is just like bedroom yoga – The sexual act tones the body, and improves overall circulation and flexibility. I don’t know about you, but that kinda sounds like another activity I know – YOGA! It’s true, sex strengthens the pelvic core, which is made up of your glutes (butt), abdominals (tummy), and your calves, quadriceps and hamstrings (legs), the same way that yoga does.
Sex and exercise both promote weight loss - Scientific studies show that regular sex (3 times or more per week) triggers the release of growth hormones that encourage weight loss.
Going to the gym is an excuse to meet members of the opposite sex - Plus when you consider some of the trendy new classes available - strip aerobics, pole dancing…need I say more!

Is it just me or are the similarities undeniable?

Obviously the more exercise you do; the better sex you’ll have! Plus when you consider the most popular seductive foods - oysters, strawberries, grapes, red wine…all healthy! I rest my case.

I hope you all enjoyed my post. I won't lie, it was fun to write. I’m actually entering it in a group writing project that was organized by Darren Rowse at Problogger.net. All of the posts will be featured on the Problogger blog, and all follow the “The Top 5” theme. Please follow this link to read the other great Top 5 Posts that were submitted.

I’ll be keeping an eye on the submissions myself, and at the end of the week I’ll announce my Top 5 favorites! Please feel free to share yours with us as well.

Shrimp on a Treadmill!

Anna — Tue, 08 May 2007 15:38:00 GMT

By Fitness Mike

I came across this video a few weeks back and thought it to be somewhat funny, a shrimp running on a treadmill.

It combines the cardio of a treadmill workout with the benefit of a water workout, but for shrimps. It seems to have resurfaced with many people searching just to see what all the fuss is about. Apparently getting the shrimp to run on the treadmill was some science thing like testing the effects of weightlessness on tiny screws in space. But the original has been pushed down the list with the humorous submissions of the same video played with a funny song. Who doesn't like to see something or someone running to the Benny Hill theme?

I was unable to locate the official reason for putting the shrimp on treadmill and most people do not seem to know why but it is always fun to guess:

The sports industry was always curious on whether or not shrimp would actually get shin splints. By finding that out they could diagnose that in humans and find a cure.
It could also be that the shrimp population is becoming too obese from lack of activity or are just not as fit as they should be because of video games and the internet. Scientists are trying to get them fit again.
Just a pet with an activity center like a hamster.
PETA could be trying to make them less appetizing for human consumption. Who wants slim stringy shrimp that could either run away or fight back?

Of course there will always be people who will enjoy shrimp regardless. The slow ones are easy to catch. When you are done playing with them, you can eat them to and they are good for you. Check out the shrimp nutritional information.

For some reason I can't help think of the Snakes on a Plane movie. Naturally there will be countless spin-offs of shrimp on a treadmill like crab on a treadmill:

This is actually an experiment on how crabs use oxygen when they exercise. The crab seems to be having a much tougher time on the treadmill. I can see why. Try doing the crab walk on a treadmill and see how easy it is for you.

This is just another reason to get working out. You don't want a shrimp to be fitter than you, do you? I just hope it wipes the machine down as per treadmill rules.

May is National Pet Month!

Anna — Fri, 04 May 2007 10:00:00 GMT

Ah May!

It's that wonderful time of year when the weather starts to warm up and the patios open. It's also the month when we're suddenly blinded by the snow white legs of our co-workers in shorts, and the month when we start to notice that everyone in our neighborhood has a dog! So it just makes perfect sense that May would be dubbed National Pet Month!

Bash Dibra, an Animal behaviorist and pet trainer to stars like Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Lopez wants you to know that "walking your dog is healthy exercise for both [of] you!" Not only will having a "best friend" get you outside and moving, it's also good therapy for Fido too. Dibra says that regular walks can curb a dog's destructive behavior and his or her excessive barking.

If you're not sure you can handle the responsibility of owning a dog, do what my fabulous friend Marlo is doing...look into fostering a homeless dog from a local pet shelter. Gauranteed you'll fall in love with Fido.

So grab that lease and get outside. Enjoy the sights and sounds of spring with your new best friend...and for the love of all runners, please remember to stoop and scoop!

Flirty Girl Fitness - Empowering Women to be healthy and strong!

Anna — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 10:00:00 GMT

You all know that I’m all over anything that encourages the empowerment of women…Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, that’s right ladies. Loud and proud!

Well Chicago will open the very first Flirty Girl Fitness this May 2007! Even though I’m not too crazy about the name, I do love the fact that something from my Canadian homeland inspired our fine American neighbors – the very first Flirty Girl women-owned, women-only fitness club opened in Toronto, Ontario in December, 2005.

The Chicago Flirty Girl Fitness will feature a 7,500 square foot, women’s-only health and fitness lifestyle facility, complete with elliptical, treadmills, stationary bikes and get this, brass dance polls and leather lap dancing chairs – yeeehawww! Get your sisterhood sweat on to one of their 31 classes that focus totally on the empowerment of women. How’s this for fun - Striptease Aerobics, Chair Dancing or Hottie Body Boxing that have participants sporting pink boxing gloves? You can also chill after your workout at the Coyote ugly dance bar and lounge

If Flirty Girl Fitness inspires women to laugh while creating a healthy, active and sexy body image…I give it 2 pink boxing gloves up!