THE WORLD IS YOUR GYM!

   Can't afford a gym membership? Not a in-home workout person? I'm sure you're not alone. While driving to my destination earlier today, I saw a guy working out on a neighborhood cat walk. You know, one of those overpasses that allows people to cross over a busy main street without having to worry about traffic. What a perfect example of using your outside neighborhood surroundings to get in a good workout!  Everything from push ups, sprints, squats and tricep dips. The incline there gives great resistance to get a good burn in those legs too. Gym? What gym? No gym needed here! Only your body, a little knowledge of how to perform certain exercises and the world. So go ahead, go outside and see all of the possibilities waiting for you!!

FAD DIETS

 
    Many people trying to lose weight get caught up with fad diets. Fad diets may work in short term but they tend to result in short term weight loss also.They may also contribute to or aggravate health issues. Gradual weight loss should be the goal. This will lead to being able to maintain and manage your weight loss for the long term.

Some studies show that many women tend to look for quick and easy weight loss solutions. They find it hard to believe that one just doesn't exist in these times. They fall for the quick-fix claims and invest their hopes and money in pills, potions, and gadgets that promises them a slimmer, happier future. Speaking of pills, some of them may help control appetite but can have some serious side effects. Others can be flat out worthless.

Any claims that something can effortlessly make you lose weight is absolutely false! The only proven way is proper diet and exercise. A combination of reducing the number of calories you eat and increasing the number of calories burned off through exercise is what's recommended by most if not all experts.

So lets recap. There isn't nor will there be a substitute for proper diet and exercise techniques. So stop making someone rich by buying worthless fad diets and pills. Do it the right way, better yet the best way!!

PLAYOFF TIME!!!

   It's about that time again! The NBA playoffs baby!!
Time to win or go home! Or as Charles, Kenny, Shaq and Ernie would say, "Time for some people to go fishin!". The match ups are almost set and the fans are waiting.

The favorites coming out of the east include the Bulls, Heat and the Celtics. The Hawks are hanging around looking to make a run also. The Magic might have been able to make a run but that all ended with Howard getting hurt. Will it be another eastern conference championship match up between the Heat and Bulls? We will see!!

The western conference has been in a tight race for the "best in the west" for years. The Spurs are once again quietly leading the charge with the Thunder and the Lakers hanging close. The defending champs, the Mavericks, are also in the picture even though  their trade that brought Odom into the fold didn't quite pan out. Can't completely count them out! They are the champs. Gotta give them a little respect for that!

Who knows what the outcome's gonna be right now. But that's what
makes the playoffs so great! Tell you what though, there's gonna
be a lot of 7 game series and some late nights coming up!! Who's
your pick to take it all the way??

MAX OUT YOUR METABOLISM

    Burning calories on that treadmill is a great thing. But did you know that your metabolism is the "burn" that gets rid of those unwanted calories day and night. Let's take a look at the 3 parts of your metabolism.

Burn #1

BASAL (RESTING) METABOLISM

Your BMR accounts for  60-75% of your overall metabolism. It represents the calories you burn doing absolutely nothing at all. It's fueled your heart beating and your lung working to breathe.

Burn #2

DIGESTIVE METABOLISM

This burn is caused from the thermic effect of food (TEF). Digesting food usually burns 10% of your daily calories. You burn more calories digesting protein than you do digesting carbohydrates and fat--about 25 calories for every 100 consumed, against 0-10 for carbs and fat. That means more protein is a good thing.

Burn #3

EXERCISE AND MOVEMENT METABOLISM

This accounts for 15-30% of your metabolism. It includes workouts and other physical activities like jogging called exercise activity thermogenesis (E.A.T.). It also includes movements like turning the page of a book. This is called nonexercise activity thermogenesis or N.E.A.T.

WATER, WATER, WATER!!

   Do you drink enough water? That's one question everyone should be asking themselves. The answer that so many people tend to have is "no". Even though we all know it's good for us, it's something that's not used as often as it should be. Some of the drinks that tend to beat water out are coffee, sodas ( including diet soda), juices and sports drinks. It's not a matter of not being able to have those things. The problem occurs when they become the main drinks of choice and water becomes the second and sometimes the third choice. Gotta admit that I've had that problem before. Thankfully, water has taken the number one drink spot on my list. Of course there's always a cup of coffee in the morning. So for anyone who wants to know why they should drink more water, here's a couple of good reasons for you...

**Water is one of the best tools for weight loss. Replacing soda and juice with saves calories, sugar and carbs. It's also good for suppressing your appetite because it takes up space in your stomach.

**Water can stop you from being dehydrated. This can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, headaches and dizziness. Rule of thumb: If you're thirsty, you're probably already dehydrated.

**Drinking water can clear up your skin. It doesn't happen immediately but drinking a good amt of water will have some good effects.

**Water also flushes out toxins and waste products from the body.

**Water can reduce the risk of bladder cancer by 50%. It's also been found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45%.

Make an effort to drink a couple more glasses of water a day and then more after that. Your body will appreciate it!

HUNGRY?

Hungry and wondering what to have for dinner? Check out this chicken recipe.

Dijon Chicken Smothered in Mushrooms
      
Ingredients

4       Boneless          chicken breasts         
1/4    Cup all              purpose flour
1/2     Tsp salt
1/4     Tsp pepper
1        Tbsp of canola or olive oil
1/2     Cup roasted garlic seasoned chicken broth
1 1/2  Tbsp Dijon mustard                            
1        Jar (4.5 oz) sliced mushrooms

Step 1
Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, press each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until 1/4 in thick. In a shallow dish mix flour, salt and pepper.

Step 2
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Coat both sides of chicken with flour mixture. Cook chicken in hot oil 6 to 8 minutes, turning once, until chicken is no longer pink in the middle. Remove chicken to serving plate; cover to keep warm.

Step 3
Stir broth into skillet. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Stir in mustard and mushrooms. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened. Spoon sauce over chicken.

**some nutritional facts: 210 cal/serving, 27g of protein, 8g fat (no trans fat), total carbohydrates 8g (0 sugars)       Bon Appetit!!

WHY NOT YOU!!

       Today I want you to ask yourself this one question."Why not you?" Why not you to do something for work that you love? Why not you to have a healthy body? Why not you to have a healthy love? Why not you to be, have, or do anything you have ever dreamed?! We are so quick to think others are deserving over ourselves. The truth is that we are all deserving. SO WHY NOT YOU!

                                                                                                        -Jillian Michaels

WOW!! Sometimes the simplest question means so much. Take a minute and think about it. Why not you??