Fab 5 Friday! Major Agers! (part 1 of 2)

Once again- I can't believe how FAST the week went by... Here is my promised fab 5 Friday post!

Beware of these 5 aging dangers that are lingering in YOUR home! Some of them might surprise you! I know they surprised ME

!1) Cleaning products that contain Bleach... It can actually get into your body through your skin and lungs. Solution? Clean with White vinegar & baking soda. Works just as well and won't irritate skin or increase symptoms of asthma.

2) Mosquito Repellent: Instead, enjoy Citronella Candles... & Clean up the junk that may be attracting the pests. And always avoid leaving large pools of stale water in your yard.

3) Soap. Soap? Really? Soaps that contain fragrances & chemicals can be very hard on your skin- stripping away your skins natural moisturizers. Always purchase PH balanced soap

4) BBQ Sauce- It might as well be on the dessert menu. Loaded with High Fructose Sugar, your body turns it right to FAT! And watch out for other items that contain this sugar in disguise.

5) Canned Frosting.... Mmmm... Frosting... Food manufactures add Trans fats to many foods to prolong the shelf life but Trans fats + Trans fats = heart death. Always, always, always buy items that don't contain Trans Fats.

Fab 5 Friday! Food Edition!

Can you tell that not only do I LOVE food... But I love LISTS TOO!

I've traveled the globe in search of the worlds healthiest people. No, I haven't really traveled the world but I've picked a few surprising food items that may help you live longer!

1) Goat's Milk. NO, I'm not kidding and it's not even April 1st. It is REALLY GOOD for you. Don't trust me? Google it! I guess I gotta buy a goat... and then milk it... ughhh...

2) Whole Wheat Tortilla & Beans. Undelay' Undelay'!

3) Goya. Goya? What the H is Goya? Looks like a cucumber- Tastes like crud. This is found in many Japanese diets. Highest levels of anti-oxidant everrrrr! Fry it up in a veggie stir fry!

4) Dandelion Herbal Tea. Helps prevent dementia & also is an anti-diuretic. Helps lower blood pressure too! Mama had a baby & her head popped off!

5) Walnuts soaked in Water. I have never heard of this but I promise I am going to try this because I HEART walnuts!

So it's that simple (I guess!) Buy yourself a goat & soak those nuts! You'll live to a ripe old age of 100! Oh, And laugh a little too! Have a Fab Friday & Wonderful weekend!

T.G.I.F.!!!

Holy Friday Batman!

I can't believe it's Friday ALREADY!!! And as promised- Here are my Fantastic Friday 5 health tips in 5 minutes or less! I really like these ones! Hope you have a fabulous Friday & a wonderful weekend!

1)Total body 2 minute workout: need something different or new at the gym? Jump on a machine- any machine and push it as hard as you can (without hurting yourself) for 2 minutes! Push! Push! Push! After 2 minutes hop on the next machine! Rotate between upper & lower body. It's a great way to get a total body workout & you will even get your Heart Rate up! And there is no way you can get bored with this workout!

2) Tubby Time! Take a nice hot bath or Shower before bed. The hot water will actually raise your body's core temperature which will cause your body to release melatonin- melatonin, that sweet sweet hormone that tells your brain it's time to go nightly night! Sleep is an extremely important key to a healthy lifestyle!

3) Of Cores You Can! Training and strengthening your core is so important to keeping your whole body healthy! Keeping your back & abs strong will help alleviate backache too! And it helps increase the calorie burn

4) Time OUT! Every so often put yourself in a time out throughout the day! Even if it's only for 1-2 minuets. Get up from your desk and stretch! Stand up tall and then touch your toes. It gets your blood flowing. If you're home with your kids, take a little break when you know the kids are safe and take some deep breaths, roll out your neck and feel yourself calm down. Do this as much as necessary. Less stress will help decrease that stubborn Belly fat!

5) Laugh your A$$ off! Ha ha ha! Laughter really is the best medicine. We all know someone who is funny ask hell! Give them a call or look up goofy clips on YOU TUBE. It's amazing how much a little chuckle every now and then will improve your health!

So get your exercise, sleep & take a little time for yourself to laugh! It can add years to your life! Have a wonderful Weekend!

I'm totally BUGGIN'!

You guys- I have for months and months wanted to get a body bugg! But I just can't help but wonder how effective/accurate they are! And I'm also pretty sure that as soon as I DO buy one they will come out with a new & improved version- that's the way my life goes! (hello- iphone!)

What should I do? Should I get the bug! Should I bug off? . . . . Who has one? Who loves or hates them? Help me people- I can't make up my mind!

-Buggin!

Fab 5 Friday!!!

Watch for my new FAB FIVE FRIDAY posts! I've been doing my research on Easy ways to improve your health & well being in 5 minutes or less. I'm giving them to you in 5 fantastic increments every Friday! Make these 5 small changes this weekend & you'll be feeling better by Monday!

Add these 5 fab food items to your shoppingg cart TODAY!

(And yes! I always wear my high heels & mini skirts to the grocery store!)

1) Wild Salmon- A great source of Omega 3 to keep your heart happy!

2) Almonds- I prefer raw almonds but you can choose dry roasted. They are the superstar of the nut family! (as am I!) he he he...

3) Tomatoes & Onions- I put 2 on this one because together with a little light Italian dressing you can mix up a disease fighting salad! Tomatoes are one of the best little antioxidants on the earth and even helps fight fat. Onions are proven to help fight colds, coughs and other respiratory conditions! mmm...

4) Avocado! The "good" fat! Spread a little on your turkey wrap or whip up a little guac for your veggies!

5) Chocolate. Yes- I said Chocolate. Dark Chocolate to be exact. And do you really need a reason why?

Here's to a happy, healthy (and delicious) Weekend!

Are we failing because of our Goals?

This morning while I was working out I had a thought come to my mind... Why do people (I) set goals? A goal seems so final. This promoted me to look up the word "goal" in the dictionary. And here is what I found...

GOAL: the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.

End? End... So, I asked myself. What happens once I reach my goal? I pictured in my mind a runner. A runner running in a marathon who's ultimate goal is to win the race. What does he do when he reaches the end?... He stops! I then began to ask myself- is this WHY so many people FAIL at weight loss? Not because they don't necessarily reach their goals but instead because once they reach their goal they stop? Do they stop trying? Did they "win" their race?. . .

I instead like the idea of making LIFESTYLE CHANGES and starting a challenge. By definition, Challenge means: a call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength, etc. By challenging ourselves we are talking our healthy lifestyles changes to the next level. To temporarily push yourself to a new ability. Challenge yourself to change the way you are living forever. And You will never fail again.

Don't set goals. Make Changes. A Goal has an end. A Change is forever!

dub nutrition helps you make the changes you need to live a healthy lifestyle. And don't just live long- live WELL!

My 3 Ingredients for Weight Loss & Maintenance!

I was 15 years old when I started "working out." In the gym of my uncles doctor's office I would spend hours and hours on end, sometimes into the late hours of the night, on the stair climber, health rider (are these even still around) or on the stationary bike. For my 16th birthday I asked my parents for an "exerslide" (are THESE still around?) and for Christmas that same year I asked for an ab-crunch-infomercial thingy. I don't even remember what it was called but it looked like a weapon of mass destruction. I also got a thigh master that same year, it was a banner Christmas for me! Don't get the wrong impression- this was ALL MY IDEA! My parents were not the type of people to buy me something THEY thought I needed. I wanted every "get thin fast" craze item on the market from the time I was a teen! I STILL get sucked into the late night infomercial and find myself reaching for the phone! But I refrain (it's been 5 years since I was suckered into buying... & since you asked- it was "SLIM IN 6!") because weight loss & maintenance ALL boils down to 3 "easy" things... (and I say "easy" because after 15 years it's finally comes natural for me!)

DIET: I start with diet because ultimately I think it's the MOST important ingredient (pun intended) to a recipe of weight loss/maintenance success. And when I say "diet" I don't mean: "Eat Cabbage soup for 7 days and lose 10 lbs!"diet (yes, shut up- I've done the cabbage soup diet) I mean "diet" by definition as: food and drink considered in terms of its qualities, composition, and its effects on health. Everything little thing that goes in your mouth. Whether it's fruits & veggies or caramel malts with extra whipped cream- this is your "diet"... You don't go "on or off" a diet- you change your diet. You IMPROVE (hopefully) your diet and you MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR DIET! I love food and I have a personal goal to see just how much food I can eat in a day and STILL stay within my calorie allotment. And I'm not going to lie, I'm good!!! I know which veggies have the least amount of calories- which fruits are higher in calories & sugars and which foods I have to avoid all together. I try and make it through the day staying under 1500 calories but OVER 100+ grams of protein and under 100 carbs. That's a lot of math- but it gets easier and easier as you go... I am also really big into supplementing. Supplementing by definition means: something added to complete a thing, supply a deficiency, or reinforce or extend a whole. Everyone should be supplementing. We can all benefit by filling in the gaps.

2nd- (and my most favorite) WEIGHT TRAINING: And when I say weight training I don't' mean doing bicep curls once a week with 3 lb weights! I mean serious, train like a man, leg pressing 200+ lbs, face turning purple WEIGHT TRAINING! Ok, so I don't really train like a man, but I can hold my own in a weight room! God blessed me with a strong body (I'm by no means claiming perfection here) but if there is one thing I will say it's that I am strong. I am much stronger when it comes to say shoulder presses than I am when it comes to cross country running or sprinting. Chicks of the world- I say to you "Don't be afraid of the weight rooms!"..... Do me one favor- next time you're at the gym, take a goooooood look around and tell me one thing: Where do you find all the people with the HOT BODIES???... In the weight room! And what type of people do you see cycling along at a snails pace? The chubby butts who think "slow & steady wins the race!" Now, that's not to say that cardio isn't important (see cardio rave below) I'm just saying it may not be as important as people are claiming! You gotta PUMP IT, GIRL!

But with that said, it's time to give CARDIO it's props! So when *I* say cardio I mean getting your heart rate up! And this is where I give you MY cardio advice: Do something (anything) that you LOVE that gets your heart rate UP and KEEPs it up for an extended period of time. If you HATE ridding a stationary bike in a dark smelly gym then by all means- DON'T DO THAT! If instead, you enjoy an afternoon of tennis with a girlfriend even though you BOTH SUCK? Then PLAY TENNIS, KEEP MOVING and LAUGH YOUR A$$ OFF!!! If you are less than coordinated and were born with 2 left feet, then don't buy a "25 Step Class Punch Card"- Rather, Strap your 2 year old on your back and go for a hike! (trust me- that will be a great cardio workout!) Do what you LOVE and you'll LOVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING! I always say "The best kind of exercise is unintentional!" I'm going to give you a perfect example. Yesterday I was in the toy room with the girls- I was laying on the bed and we started throwing the balls around- we then started throwing them up at the window seal and got "2 points" if they stayed up there. We did this for well over an hour! (yes, we are easily amused!) And this morning I woke up with sore abs! It took me like 10 minuets to even figure out why they were sore but it was from that silly game with my daughter! Accidental exercise ROCKS! ; )

So there you have it- my 3 ingredients for success! No, I'm not a Hollywood star trainer or a certified dietitian. I'm just a mom with some kids, a job, a needy husband, a dog that doesn't get enough attention (note to self: take the dog for a walk) and someone who's attends the school of hard knocks Diet & Exercise program!