Archive for May, 2008
Posted on May 27, 2008 Comments here (13) ♥
Cynthias over at garbagethatgoo tagged me for a 6 word or less memoir, to live by. Her’s was the time is always now. My 5 word memoir is action brings happiness and success.
”Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action” by Benjamin Disraeli.
When we’re feeling stuck about the current situation, it’s better to take action. Do some planning and take precautious. Don’t make any execuses for not taking action. We can’t always control the outcome, but most likely the situation will change to the better. Learning to believe and have faith in yourself is a critical part of being happy.
Sometimes we don’t feel like taking action, for exmple going to the gym. In those situations, don’t let feelings determine your course. We need to take control of our feelings in order to achieve success. Without action we don’t get anywhere. If you want to lose weight, don’t wait until your current situation is perfect, do it now.
Decide to have a good day is also an action.
I remember an illustration of a cartoon character having a bad day. If you think “this is a shitty day” all day long, your will end up feeling shit when you get home. However, if you decide you’re not going to let those negative feelings affect you, at least you can relax and maybe feel a little better when you get home even though it’s a shitty day. At the end of the day, YOU decide if you want to have a good day or bad day. Which one will feel better?
I invite the following bloggers to write their own 6 Word Memoir, a phrase to live by. You don’t have to if you don’t feel like playing.
Marie - nourish ourselves
Lady G - lady-g-fitness
Lady - love my chubs
Bobby- bobby boys
Mike - livelife 365
Rules of play:
Write your own six word or less memoir…
post it on your blog….
Link to the person who tagged you..
Tag 5 or more bloggers…
Leave a comment on the tagged bloggers site with an invitation to play….
Posted on May 24, 2008 Comments here (7) ♥
I promise, no more whining! The scale isn’t really moving but I’m so happy anyway! Normally during this time, my weight would creep up. I haven’t been counting calories or get enough with exercise this week. I realized it’s ok for me not trying to lose weight every week. Just trying to maintain my weight during my weakest time is enough. After reading anti-aging straight talk, I want more than just losing weight. I want my health to be topnotch! The free materials that’s included in the report is very valuable to me. I’m going to enjoy eating more salads, nuts, and healthy fat. I’ll lose weight and look younger, eh? 
I’m already doing healthy stuff, but different from now on is that I’m going to enjoy it more. When I’ve a chance I’ll post pictures of what I eat during one day.
Steve suggests apple cider vinegar so I’m giving it a second try. I mix 1 teaspoon in a glass of water and drink it in the morning, then eating 30 minutes later. I don’t know if it works or not, maybe I need to put in 2-3 teaspoon for weight loss to happen. One thing I noticed, it’s that I didn’t gain weight this week! My theory is that apple cider vinegar helps to digest food better and as result stimulate the bowel movement. I think there is a link between weight loss and regular bowel movement! What do you think is normal bowel movement? There seems to be no right answer, from 3 times a day to 3 times a week. I think at least once a day is ideal. Talking about digestive system, here’s a video showing the stages of digestion and the important of saliva. We can never be too much educated so do watch it.
I want to video blogging some day, but I don’t have a clue. I know I can google, but if you can share information with me it would be much appreciated. My mom has a JVC digital camcorder (hard drive version).
Posted on May 22, 2008 Comments here (1) ♥
What does anti-aging means to you?
For most people it may means looking and feeling younger. Is it possible? What’s your view? For me it means longevity and age gracefully without disease and sickness. It’s a dream but I think it’s accomplishable. Just because many people grow old and get sick doesn’t mean we have too. I used to be like most people who have taken health for granted, but this year I’m trying my very best to be healthy. As we grow older, our health become deteriorate and the chance of getting sick is greater. I notice that my skin doesn’t heal as fast and as good as it use to.
I would say most people I know don’t do anything about their health until it’s too late. I’ve worked in a nursing home and seen a lot of sick people. Some of them were normal like you and me, but one day the sickness just strikes. There’s no more chance to live a normal life after that. There are things you can do to maximize your chance to not get sick as you grow older.
In Michael Moshier’s report on Anti-Aging Straight Talk, Mike talks about achieving optimal health and to be youthful both inside and outside. Mike has spent years researching, talking to many experts on anti aging subjects and personally has tested many anti-aging products. Mike shares in his report what he knows, what works and where to find more valuable information. The report is designed to help you gain information and think objectively on anti-aging. It’s not meant to be a comprehensive document on the subject. Mike doesn’t sells or endorses any products but he’ll share his favorite products with you. A note, I’m not making money on this either.
What is Anti-Aging Straight Talk?
Anti-Aging Straight Talk goes beyond aging gracefully without disease and sickness. It’s not a ”remedy” to growing old, but how you can achieve optimal health, like when you’re in your prime years. For example, when you make a visit to doctor office to find out your blood test results, you don’t want to see a normal range result. Because you don’t want to feel like an average normal person in your age range! Say if you’re 50 years old, it’s possible to have a body full of energy and vibrancy like a 20 years old. In the report you’ll learn how to collect and track important key data to determine your anti-aging baseline. Once you’ve the data then you can start your own anti-aging regime, and you’ll have a better understanding about major life-threatening risk factors and how to avoid them. Mike also offers his personal view on diet, super food, exercise, posture and stretching. Plus, he will share with you his anti-aging regime and the top ten supplements he takes to stay at optimal health!
The report is mainly for healthy young to middle- and past middle-aged women and men who who are interested in managing their aging and increasing their longevity. Stop buying miracle anti-wrinkle creams or worrying about getting bald. This would be a better investment both for your looks and health .
Do you want to manage your aging? Right now Anti-aging straight talk has limited time offer and sells on website for only $29.95 US.
Posted on May 20, 2008 Comments here (2) ♥
This is a guest post by Lisa Nelson, RD, LN
Did you come across a treadmill for a great discount price and decide – I need to exercise more; I’m not going to find a better price, why not? So, you now have this piece of equipment in a corner of your living room or bedroom collecting dust or acting as an expensive clothes rack.
Why is it that your good intentions led no where? Sure, that first week or two you hopped on several times, but then your progress came to a screeching halt. Well, you may not have had everything in place to be successful. You need to make sure all your “ducks are in a row” to ensure your success. If you jump from Contemplation into Action, you are skipping the critical Preparation phase. Huh? You will begin to understand what I mean as you read on.
For the purpose of this article, I will focus on the critical action step. The goal I use is increasing physical activity. You can use the Stages of Change model to work on any area you are trying to change, such as eating habits to lose weight, lowering cholesterol levels, and/or controlling high blood pressure.
The Stages of Change model was first developed by psychologists James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente in the late 1970’s. They focused on changing addictive behaviors, specifically smoking. The Stages of Change model identifies the phases we go through when we change our habits. The five stages are called – 1. Pre-contemplation, 2. Contemplation, 3. Preparation, 4. Action and 5. Maintenance. Tailoring your actions based on the stage you are in will propel you forward.
No need to waste time dwelling on the science behind the method. Just know it has been proven a useful tool. Now, let’s dive into how you can use it to your benefit.
Action
In this stage, you are performing the behavior regularly, but for less than 6 months. This means you have established a plan of action and have implemented that plan. You are actively modifying your behaviors, experiences, and environment to overcome obstacles and achieve success. The action phase is the most difficult and requires a considerable commitment of time and energy. Change does not happen overnight. It will take persistence for a new behavior to become an established habit.
The following four strategies are used to move through this stage of change:
Counter-conditioning
Substitute alternate positive behaviors for the negative behavior. It can take up to 30 days for a new behavior to become a habit. Be aware of this and put safety guards in place. Stick with your action plan and continue to replace old sedentary behaviors with new physically active ones. You may feel some loss. You actually miss your old behaviors. These behaviors are like old friends you felt comfortable with and change moves you out of your comfort zone. Review your reasons for wanting to be physically active and the long-term benefits you will gain if you stick with your plan.
Reinforcement Management
Change the events that determine or sustain the problem behavior. Reward yourself for achieving your goals, such as a new outfit, book, or running shoes. Recognize your progress and reward yourself. This will provide you with an incentive to stick with your new plan.
Helping Relationships
Turn to your support system. Don’t get overconfident and think you do not need family and friends behind you. Keep them in the loop with the progress you’ve made and identify new ways they can help you move towards your goals. Now is a time to consider signing a “contract” with yourself to reinforce your commitment to change. Have your family and friends be witnesses!
Stimulus Control
Be aware of triggers for reverting to your old habits. What safety mechanisms can you put in place to negate these triggers? Start replacing old behavior triggers with something positive. For example, place your goals where you will see them daily – like the refrigerator. Keep gym shoes by the front door. Create reminders at work, such as tennis shoes under your desk for a lunch time walk. Always be on the lookout for stumbling blocks and be prepared to brainstorm ways to overcome the hurdles.
You are doing great! Maintenance is just around the corner.
Bottom Line:
During the action phase, you make your goals a reality. Now is not a time to get cocky. Hurdles will frequently pop up and you need to be ready with strategies to overcome them. You will have some bad weeks. Step back, evaluate what is keeping you from regular activity, and figure out a solution. It may take some trial and error before you find the right solution for you. Now about that treadmill – you have it and it is dust-free!
Tackling change is hard and determining exactly what steps you need to take can be confusing. By recognizing that change has identifiable steps and strategies, you can use this knowledge to move forward and achieve your goals!
© 2008 eNutritionServices, All Rights Reserved. Lisa Nelson, registered dietitian, has created the special report – Treadmill or Dust Collector? How to Master Change. Ensure your success with lowering cholesterol levels, high blood pressure control, and weight loss by clicking on http://enutritionservices.com/ezine.html and get your FREE report today!
Posted on May 18, 2008 Comments here (2) ♥
Sometimes we get too confused with the overwhelming informations when we google. I think one of the best places to get informations are from personal trainers, dietitians and doctors. My tip is to sign up for their newsletter or ezine to receive health related informations, motivations and tips. Sometimes I’ll be posting guest articles from them that I find interesting and useful.
This week I’m accepting an article from Lisa Nelson who is registered dietitian, be sure to sign up for her free Heart of Health ezine. You can always unsubscribe later if you don’t find the informations useful. Recently she published “Lose 9 pounds in 11 days” and someone was asking if fatloss4idiots works. She brings up very good points to consider before venturing out on any diets.
Lisa is planning some future articles about fatty acids so now I’ve my chance to ask her about omega-3 and omega-6! 
Posted on May 17, 2008 Comments here (2) ♥
Knowing your own weakness can help you tremendously with the weight loss process. I looked through my archives and notice that I don’t do so well from the middle through to the end of the month, because of my period. I tend to overeat and give in for the craving. For you it may be something else. I’ve to be really extra careful and put in extra hardwork for the rest of May. I hope I’m strong enough to do it. There are days I just want to throw out the scale, sooo frustrating.
It’s a very small gain on the scale this week, but the fat loss percentage is down. I did two sessions of Jillians 30 Day Shred and one hour session of Wii Fit. I could have done it better.
Posted on May 15, 2008 Comments here (2) ♥
If you haven’t been over at Healthy Lifestyle Bloggers, take a look. Healthy lifestyle bloggers has made it easier to find bloggers who’s on the same path as you. There’s a ton of information about fitness, weight loss, healthy recipes, and health! Get inspired! Where’s the best place to learn weight loss if not by other people who are on the same mission as you? Healthy lifestyles bloggers remind us to make healthy choices which sometimes are easy to forget and most of us take health for granted.
Read, learn, and your health will be better. Do something for yor health today! Start eating more fruits, vegetables, exercising, lift some weights, get more fresh air! Don’t forget to live and enjoy your life. Pets, flowers, nature and occean are great sources for healing your soul. If you got a chance, travel to Asia, live like they do, and enjoy something different!
You can also inspire others by adding your own blog to the site and become part of healthy lifestyle bloggers. You can sign up here.
Posted on May 13, 2008 Comments here (4) ♥
How do you distribute calories and why it’s important to distribute it throughout the day? We know that we should eat often, 5-6 times a day to keep metabolism going. If you don’t do it right you may end up getting hungry or having difficulty losing fat. Also, all calories is not created equal. I didn’t understand the whole metabolism things until two weeks ago. Now I eat often as much as 8 -10 times a day and my body seems to be digesting food better.
When you eat a high caloric meal your digestive track system may not be able to burn the most of the calories, and may get stored as fat. That’s why it’s better to eat smaller portions to burn it more efficiently. It may also depends on what kind of calories you eat, fruits and vegetables help you greatly with the digesting process.
For example, a female who’s on 1500 calories may divide like this, 400 calories per meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She then has 300 calories left for mid-meal snacks, divide it further, 100 calories/snack. This person may get hungry because she is used to eat more than 400 calories for the main meal and the 100 calories snack is too little to feel satisfied. It may be better to distribute it almost equally.
How many calories do you need? There are few mathematical formulas to figure out your daily caloric intake but using this calorie calculator is easier.
Posted on May 10, 2008 Comments here (5) ♥
I’m so happy that I hit a new low on the scale (graph)! Last week I visited livelife365.com and it was a great help to me. I didn’t do any exercise this week. So far I haven’t lost so much weight as I would like to but I’ve accomplished alot, eating better and starting to exercise. The first quarter of this year was tough, trying to get exercises into my daily routines. It was such a pain, but I did it!
Now that second quarter is here, it’s time to be better at eating fewer calories. For lunch and dinner I now eat around 200-300 calories/meal. The rest of the calories is distributing equally throughout the day. My stomach hasn’t adjust yet, so I still want more food. My eyes are doing better, seeing that I eat way too many calories in the past. I can eat more vegetables to fill up but I can only eat them so much. I’ll talk more about calories next week.
Craving is still lurking, but I’m better prepared now. I’m constantly reminding myself what do I want MORE. A fat belly or a healthy dazzlingly beautiful gorgeous body? 
Every time I make the right choice it does not only bring me closer to my goal, but also the decisions will be fewer every time I win.
Posted on May 3, 2008 Comments here (10) ♥
I’m back to normal routine again, so nice! The only exercise I got this week was Wii Fit because I didn’t feel like doing any fitness dvd. What I’ve been doing for the last couple of days was learning how to count calories and eating lots of fruits! What a different it makes to my body! I eat at least an apple a day now. My weight is dropping like crazy and I hit a new low on the scale too. I think it may be all the water my body holds. I’m going to the bathroom frequently now. I really had a sluggish metabolism system but by distributing the calories throughout the day and no more than 300 calories per meal my body seems to love it. I know nutritions are a crucial part of weight loss but it didn’t really open my eyes until now. This is really why I should take a notice of how my body feels. As you know I bought a new scale so my weight loss graph is a little bit off (but accurate from now on). Anyway, I don’t think I’m losing any muscle, because I eat the calories I need to have. By the way, I add twitter to my blog so you can now follow me.
