Unscheduled disaster

When I don't plan things out or adhere to a schedule, all hell usually breaks loose. 5 day weekends are wicked fabulous, but this one was mostly unstructured. Sure, I knew I would go to the gym, hit the mall, wrap some presents, decorate, and get my hair done. But the schedule and structure to my eating was non existent.

Almost done with decorations!

I slept in, I didn't eat at normal times, I ate out, I ate to eat. My focus of getting on the new weight watchers plan was somewhat derailed. I did well getting all my fruits & veggies in, but I did not track a thing, starting with saturday. Major fail, especially since with this new plan, I'm not sure how many points this or that is. The party on saturday overwhelmed me with tracking fear & I nervously skirted away from what I'm sure was a disaster being recorded. Wine is ridiculously high in points, had a few of those, oh & that Harry & david cream cheese dip? Full fat cheese? I didn't even want to consider the POINTS! Then Sunday, Kevin & I went out for dinner.... cheesy garlic bread, lobster ravioli, scallops with a delicious rissotto, finished off with some sort of fried banana goodness with ice cream. FAIL. I didn't dwell on it though, or make myself feel bad & eat more (I've done it in the past), I just pretended like it didn't happen. I'm sure that's not a great option either.

Today was my last day off before heading back to work. A little better food wise, I'm getting ready to make chicken burgers with guacamole & sweet potato fries. I haven't tracked today, but I promise I will tomorrow, straight from the start. And my running has never felt better. After the 2 PR weekend, I decided to pump up my speedwork a little today. Not a ton, but I sprinted a little faster because I knew I could do it. Only 68 days until Rock N Roll New Orleans, I'm so excited for it!

I also gave the blog a little makeover on my extended weekend. Any thoughts? Not sure about the background. Its weird that it starts part way down like that, maybe I need something a little more plain? I'll test it out for now.

Have you entered my giveaway for Inperspire towels yet HERE? I just got in the ones I ordered for christmas presents! I can't wait to see what my family & friends have to say about them. I know they will think they are fabulous. DEADLINE FOR ENTRY IS TOMORROW 12/8!

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Bananas and breads for stomach pain?

All of us may have already suffered from stomach pain or the burning feeling. This discomfort on the upper part of the abdomen is called gastritis. This is usually caused by stress, excessive alcohol and caffeine, too much smoking and others.There are medicines that you can easily take in this kind of situation, but did you know that there are ways to prevent this burning feeling? that you may want to try just in case the medicine cabinet is out of reach?

1. Try to always eat on time. And or those small frequent meals. For example, eat breakfast around 7am in the morning, Try to eat banana around 10am. Eat lunch but not too much. Try to eat bread around 4 pm. Eat dinner by 7pm . Even if you are the busiest person in the world, Don't forget to take care of your tummy and eat on time.

2. Drink water.. but not to the point that you drown yourself. Water plays a good role in cleaning our stomach. You could try to drink just enough water every 20 minutes.

3. Banana is like the best fruit for me. And in this kind of situation bananas and breads could also help you. Aside from its convenience( you could easily bring bananas anywhere). It solves your hunger and it won't mess with your tummy.

4. Avoid spicy food. Such as chili peppers, vinegar, and even pure pineapple juice and frozen drinks might also irritate your stomach. Before you grab some medicine try to eat some food that can help calm your tummy. Like bananas, breads, veggies. And while eating try to relax yourself as well. And of course if symptoms persist you gotta see your doctor.

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Why diet and exercise won't work for some people.

Diet and exercise doesn't work for most people? because maybe their not doing it right. as simple as that. That's why most people feel frustrated whenever they didn't meet their weight goals. or they're weight fluctuate. There are times that you may want to ask a professional to give you some ideas and advices if your own diet just won't work for you. But you might ask, My friend lose weight on her own? I can do it to right?

Well, my brother lost a lot of weight on his own too, why? because he's doing it the right way.

So what maybe the reasons why some diet and exercise wont' work for you.


You may not have a good plan. and or your diet is not balance with your level of
exercise.

You might be eating more than you think. You consume more saturated fats.

You forgot about portion sizes.

You don't have proper balance of carbs, proteins and fats. you can't lose weight if your undernourished.

a little discipline wont hurt, but you don't have to kill yourself. Enjoy your diet and exercise and don't think of it as a burden.

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Healthy diet? Get nutty.

Almonds, peanuts, pistachio, cashew, walnuts, hazelnuts etc. Who doesn't like nuts?, I only know few people who dislike nuts, Mainly because of health problems and they can't take it. but the rest just all love nuts. When you start eating, sometimes you just can't stop. It's hard to tell yourself. " okay go get 3 pieces only! " We usually end up with a handful or two handfuls or even three. There is nothing wrong with that As long as you have to know when to stop. Nuts are usually high in calories when taken in large amounts. You should at least eat 2 ounces of nuts a week.

You may want to add nuts in your diet but you have to balance it. when nuts are combined with other very healthy foods, The results can be surprisingly remarkable. You can try to switch your unhealthy snacks to nuts, such as potato chips or high calorie cookies and chocolates. Nuts may not cure any diseases directly but its a step or a way to help battle those illness.

Here are the lists of benefits you get from being nutty, i mean from eating nuts.

It has arginine, a substance that may help you improve the function of your blood vessels.

Nuts has mono- and polyunsaturated fats, which is good for the heart. So if you love your heart eat nuts.

the omega-3 usually found in walnuts, another helpful fat that helps heart problems.

And finally nuts may helps you lower cholesterol. Again, good nutrtion works best with a well balanced diet. So don't just grab some nuts and eat as much as you can. Balance it. ! happy eating!


image courtesy of healhtnut.org

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Eating healthy part 2: Durian. The hate me or love me fruit

Is this a healthy food to try or a fruit to avoid?

Durian. The first time i tried this was when i was 11 years old, The smell is really bad, and i just don't like it.. But that was then,(when i was young i tend to hate odd looking fruits) Well, I like it now more than before. My sister often tells me that people has only two views for this fruit " Hate it or Love it" All i can say is that I'm in between. It is known in South and East Asian Countries as the "King of all fruits".

Tracy asked me last time about the fruit with porcupine type skin. Well, there were 3 fruits on my mind that day. But for now I'll post Durian first. The smell may repel you but it really tastes good. So, What are the health benefits that you could get from Durian?

Durian is packed with proteins, minerals, antioxidants and other phytonutrients.

I can still remember my granny used to tell me that you can't just pick this fruit from a tree and eat. You have to wait for this fruit to fall from the tree. And wait for few more days until it ripened before you can actually eat it. This fruit is known to be high in Tryptophan,

Tryptophan increases brain levels of serotonin and melatonin, both are known as sleep-inducing hormones. So it helps to relaxes your brain and get sleepy. This fruit maybe consider as a good sleeping aid. If your travelling to South East Asian Countries, you may want to give this fruit a try. Expect that the smell would be unpleasant but it's worth the try.

image courtesy of www.nurulrahman.com

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Cookie diet in your diet plans?

I came across this box, while checking out some weight-loss products last Saturday at the mall. I have no plan of buying any weight-loss products,because I'm very much satisfied with my weight now. I just want to see this cookie that my sister is planning to try.

So, i have to do my homework and did my research on this.
The Hollywood cookie diet, they say, is the first delicious way to lose weight. You'll only need to take 4 cookies a day. One cookie each meal- breakfast,mid-morning(brunch,) lunch, and mid-afternoon snack.They say that it will actually help you to lose weight, without the bitter feeling of those other weight-loss products and it'll make you feel full.and after those 4 cookies, you have to follow it with a "sensible" dinner.

Each box has 4 individually wrapped chocolate chip cookies inside. It has 20 grams of fiber, 20 grams of protein, 13 of vitamins and minerals, zero trans-fat and based on the caloric restriction of meal replacement and portion control.

Even though the results varies in each individuals. Moderate physical activity or exercise can help you more in loosing weight while taking this cookie. Hollywood cookie diet can help you reach your desired weight, They say that you can eat as long as you want until you achieve the weight you've always wanted.

Now, I don't want to sound I'm promoting this kind of diet and i don't want to sound I'm against it. I still believe that even though this kind of diet may be effective. People should not rely on this solely. If you don't have a very hectic schedule like Hollywood actors do, It's still better to at least give your self a time for a little exercise and eat healthy foods..


image courtesy of www.solomonscookie.com

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3 weight-loss tips to shed off lbs. easily.

Here are some tips that are very easy to follow. It may help you lose weight without too much pain.

1. Fresh air may lead you to work out more.
People who walked, hiked or biked on trails at least once a week were twice as likely to get 30 minutes of exercise almost every day as those who didn't head outdoors, say researchers from the University of Utah. So try to skip the gym every once in a while and get outside

2. Eating more calcium-rich food may help in the battle of the bulge.
Recent studies have suggested. A study of overweight people by Danish scientists hints at why dairy might help dieters: It seems to reduce fat absorption. After study participants ate meals that contained either a high or medium amount of low- fat yogurt and milk, their blood-fat levels were 15 to 19 percent lower than those of a group that ate only a small amount of dairy. Interestingly, this was true even when participants who were given the low dairy meals also took a calcium supplement. Good thing i love cheese.

3. Look for a quiet spot - People who sit in the more distracting parts of restaurants ( by a window or in front of a TV) eat considerably more, says Brian Wansick, Ph.d. Author of Mindless eating: why we eat more than we think. Commotion makes it eay to lose track of how much you're putting in your mouth. If you're making a reservation, request a quiet table. If you walk in and offered a table in a busier spot, ask for one away from the action -Jessica costole
So the next time you thought of eating in front of a TV, think again. You might have eaten more than what you think. It does affect your waistline.

Working out and paying attention to your diet can lead you to lose weight, but these tips may help you too lose some more even if your out of the gym and just taking your break. Have a nice weekend!

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Losing weight after pregnancy

Losing weight After the pregnancy? One of the biggest problems women encounter is losing weight. A lot of women became depressed after a pregnancy. The skin,the fat, the whole body are absolutely different from before so women tried their best to bring back their old body.Here are some tips that will help you lose weight and gain back that lost confidence.

1.Drink lots of water. -Drinking water will help you feel fuller which should suppress your appetite and less likely to eat more. Exercising will help eliminate water weight and the bloating. Most people will not drink water more than their body weight can handle. You should drink about 6-8 glasses a day depending on your body weight.

2.Watch what you eat.you are what you eat. Try to eat little to no junk food and sugar, choose healthy snacks instead; ie: fruits, vegetables, cheese, milk or juice. If you can't live without chocolates or sweet candies try alternatives. Limit your food intake when you eat, take small to medium size servings and try not ti go back for seconds, Avoid dessert as possible

3.Most important start a workout of some sort as soon as your doctor says its safe. Pick something you like to do running, speed walking, yoga, weight lifting, swimming, what ever you enjoy, or a combination of them. Just be sure that you do a warm up and cool down and get your heart rate up for at least 30 - 40 min. Try to work out at least 5 days out of the week ,7 if you have time, for at least an hour a day.

Remember it took 9 months to make a baby expect it to take 9-12 months to lose most the weight and regain the muscle tone you had before you had the baby. No pain no gain.

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