Make snacking frequently your healthy habit

Spend some time around kids – or your household pets – and you’ll see that frequent grazing is more the instinctual way to eat over the course of the day.We certainly evolved as frequent foragers, not meal eaters, and frequent snacking isn’t necessarily a bad thing – if the foods you choose are appropriate, and if you are truly hungry, it can be a healthy habit.
We usually get hungry about every three to four hours, and so several smaller meals spread throughout the day may actually prevent you from eating too much at meal time.   Snacks should have some healthy carbs – like fruit, veggies, whole grains (like crackers) – along with some protein (like nuts, soy protein products or nonfat dairy foods).
The afternoon stretch between lunch and dinner can be a difficult time – many people try to “tough it out”, but end up eating too much at dinner.  Rather than a small snack, try having a ‘second lunch’ – something a little more substantial like a protein shake, a cup of cottage cheese with some fruit, or a low calorie frozen meal.  Then, you can do your cutting back at dinner time.If after-dinner snacking is a problem for you, try brushing your teeth after dinner.   It works as a great signal to stop eating. 
By Susan Bowerman

Meet your goals: 4 tips to make you healthier, happier & more productive

Whether you need to exercise more or you want to up your game in life, you may benefit from these tips. 

1.  Ask yourself WHY? And then write it down.

Be honest with yourself about why you want to improve. In my experience, once you put it down on paper it becomes real.

-  Do you need to get fit? Why?

-  Do you need an energy boost? Why?

-  Do you have extra pounds to lose? Why?

-  Or, do you want to compete at a higher level? Why?

The reason you give will help you understand HOW you can best meet your goal.  For example, if you put down that you need to get fit because you want to have more energy to play with your kids, then it makes sense to build up your activity levels by involving your children.  You could race with them or work out on the sidelines while they’re absorbed in an activity they love.  That way you’re meeting your goal of becoming fit and doing something that will make you happier.

2.   Set a GOAL and make a plan.

Many people find that once they have a specific goal to strive toward, it motivates them to get started.  Begin with something achievable and make sure your goal is tangible.  Deciding to ‘get fit’ is pretty abstract, so try to quantify what you want to do.  Maybe you want to walk outside for at least 10 minutes every day or you want to be fit enough to take part in a 5k jog in three months time… Think about what you can and what you will do to become more active.

3.  SHARE your goal.

Tell people about your goal and they can help you stay on track. If you share your plans with a loved one, friend or co-worker, they can help you by holding you accountable. Making a verbal commitment can also help boost your motivation.  Once you have verbally made a commitment to improve yourself, the added pressure of someone asking you about it, may push you to succeed. This will help motivate you on the days you are tired or trying to find an excuse to quit.

4. PLAN for success instead of failure.

Don’t self-sabotage.  If you hate running, then putting running into your plan will sabotage your efforts before you even start. Yes, running is good for you but if it brings back terrible memories of childhood gym class or cross-country races then chances are you’ll suddenly find an old closet to clean out instead! Make a smart plan by picking an activity you enjoy.  With so many physical activities to choose from, I’m sure you’ll find something that you can look forward to each week.

***

Find your WHY, write your GOAL, SHARE your goal, make a PLAN, and head toward success in all that you do.

10 Minute Workout- Cardio Workout You Can Do at Home

By Samantha Clayton, November 20, 2012
I am always talking about squeezing in a quick workout because it’s amazing how effective a short bout of strength or cardiovascular exercise can be.
My top three reasons for making time for a 10 minute workout:
1.  When I feel stressed, a 10 minute workout gives me an instant boost of energy and helps me refocus.
2.  Like everyone, I’m often rushing and I find a 10 minute workout is enough exercise to help me not feel guilty about missing my regular routine.
3.  10 minute workouts can deliver surprisingly effective results, quickly.
It’s always better to do some exercise instead of no exercise.   When you’re feeling busy and stressed, promise yourself that you’ll manage at least 10 minutes even if you can’t find time for a longer workout session.
A great way to truly benefit from a short session is to focus on one specific area of the body or one element of fitness such as strength, cardio or flexibility.  Today, I’m going to share my favorite 10 minute cardiovascular routine with you. 
My pre-cardio 2 minute warm up
Your warm up should always be dynamic: gently loosening off your body and slowly increasing your heart rate.
A 120 second warm up to ease into the core of your workout should be good enough but spend a little extra time on days that you feel especially tight. 

• Circle your arms while marching on the spot for 30 seconds.
• 
  March with high knees while swinging your arms for 30 seconds.
• 
  Do 10 calf raises by standing with your feet shoulder width apart and rising up onto your toes, holding for a second, then lowering back down.
• 
  Do 10 squats by standing with your feet shoulder width apart and toes pointed forward.  Sit back as if you are going to sit in a chair, hold for a second, then – leading with your hips – come back to standing.
• 
  Do 10 shallow lunges. A lunge is simply a step forward and then a step back with one leg. Put your hands on your hips, keep a nice straight back and take an exaggerated step forward, lowering your back knee toward the ground. Hold the lunge for 2 seconds and repeat on the other leg.
• Jog in place for 30 seconds.

My 8 minute fat-blasting moves 
One of the great things about cardio exercise is that there are so many effective, fun and simple exercises to choose from to give you a good full-body workout.  You can also work to make sure your heart rate is within its optimal fat burning zone during the cardio portion of this 10 minute workout.
Below is a list of eight simple exercises that require no equipment.  Try to repeat each exercise for 30 seconds and then circle through all the exercises again.  I’ve alternated higher and lower impact exercises and you should aim for a work out intensity of around seven or eight out of ten to reap maximum benefits.
Alternatively, if you are new to exercise, try only doing the odd numbered exercises and going at a slightly slower pace.  Don’t ever push yourself so hard that you feel uncomfortable.
1. Modified jumping jacks
Stand with both feet together and let your arms hang at your sides. Step one leg to the side, then return to the starting position. Repeat this movement on the other side. Continue alternating back and forth until you’re comfortable doing the leg movements at a steady, challenging pace. Then add the arm movements: swing your arms overhead when you step to the side, then swing your arms back to your sides when you bring your feet together.
2. Power jumping jacks
Stand with both feet together with your arms at your sides, then jump both feet out to the sides as you bring both arms up overhead to make a star shape.  Land with bent knees in a squat position, hold this position for two seconds, and then jump back to the starting position.
3. Running in place
Run on the spot, bringing your knees up in front of you and pumping your arms back and forth in rhythm with your legs.
4. All out sprint in place
Sprint in place as fast as you can. Keep your leg and arm movements fast and powerful.
5. Squats   
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and toes pointed forward, then make a sitting back motion – as if you are going to sit in an imaginary chair.  Hold for a second, then leading with your hips, come back to standing. Be sure to keep a flat back, keep your chest high and really focus on sitting back to keep the pressure off your knees.
6. Burpees
A burpee is a powerful combination of a squat, push up and vertical jump.
Squat down on your haunches and place your hands on the floor in front of you. Kick your feet out behind you to put yourself into a push-up position. In a controlled manner, lower your chest to the ground using your arms. Press back up to complete the push up and then pull your feet back in to return to the squat position. Finish the move by jumping up in the air while clapping overhead.
7. Side step  
This is like a dance step: start with both feet together and your arms loosely by your sides.  Step sideways to the left while leaning forward slightly, reaching your right hand across your body on a diagonal towards your left knee. Then tap your right foot behind your left.  Step back to the central starting position and repeat on the other side.
8. Speed skaters
Use the same movement you perfected during your side step repetitions but, instead of stepping, jump to each side and jump back. You should look like a speed skater alternating your arms and tying to get further sideways with each jump.

***

Don’t forget to repeat all the exercises twice.  Have fun and be creative – once you’ve got the hang of this routine you can swap in extra exercises you love and keep your 10 minute cardio workout fresh.

If you can do three 10 minute blasts throughout your day, you will have achieved the recommended amount of activity each day. The ACSM, American College of Sports Medicine recommends that people try to engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. The great news is that studies have shown that accumulating that time throughout the day is as good as doing 30 minutes at a time.

For all natural supplements that support healthy nutrition go to http://valparaiso.herbalhub.com/

Good nutrition & convenience can go hand-in-hand

Focus on good nutrition while making use of pre-prepared foods and you’ll find that healthy eating is easy.
One of the biggest complaints people have about eating healthily is the perception that it requires more hours in the kitchen to prepare nutritious meals.  But there are so many convenience items available now that preparing healthy meals is a snap.

For protein, you can buy fish or poultry that’s already seasoned and ready for quick grilling or frozen pre-cooked shrimp that can be tossed with some pasta and veggies for a quick dish.  And don’t overlook canned tuna, salmon or chicken breast that can be added to salad greens, rice dishes or soups.

You can also boost the nutritional value of condensed soups by mixing them with nonfat milk or soy milk instead of water.  As the soup is heating, toss in some frozen mixed vegetables, or some loose pack spinach to add nutrition, flavor and bulk.  Frozen-loose pack vegetables allow you to use only what you need and are ready to eat in minutes.

Salad preparation can also be quick thanks to pre-washed salad greens, all sorts of pre-sliced and chopped veggies and baby carrots.  Add a splash of lowfat bottled dressing and some pre-cooked chicken or shrimp and you’ve got a quick and healthy meal.

Fresh, pre-washed and cut veggies are available in the produce section, and if your market has a salad bar you can often find them there, too.  Pop them in the steamer, toss with some pre-chopped garlic or onions when they’re crisp/tender, and you’ve got a gourmet dish in minutes.

Written by Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD. 

How To Lose Belly Fat

Many people find that they have problem areas where they just cannot get fat to budge. 

It’s frustrating that, although you may be making an effort with your diet and trying to exercise more, sometimes it feels impossible to reduce fat around your belly. With an active lifestyle there are several steps you can take to help you become or remain trim all over.

Breaking down the fat loss myth

I’m sorry to say that there is no such thing as spot reduction, we just don’t get to choose where our body stores fat and we can’t remove it from particular places when we decide we don’t want it.  It’s a disheartening fact but hundreds of sit-ups and stomach crunches on their own won’t immediately help you lose that spare tire. The good news is that with diet and exercise together, you can burn your excess fat and by following my  three belly fat busting tips that spare tire will soon deflate.

Three simple tips to help you reduce the appearance of belly fat

Here are my three go-to belly busters that help keep me stress free and in control of my figure.

Belly buster tip 1:  Make time to be active

Although you can’t spot reduce and only target a flabby tummy, you shouldn’t discount the benefits of general exercise.  If you can find time for a physical activity every day, then you’ll soon find yourself firming up all over.

I know you’ve heard it before but being active and becoming physically fit is also wonderful way to cut through the stress in your life.  Spending time exercising can give you a time out and help you reprioritize.   Even better, the time you spend exercising is time when you can’t be eating!

Belly buster tip 2:  Take a deep breath

Practice conscious breathing by inhaling through your nose and letting the air expand into your tummy, then breathe out through your mouth. Stopping work and taking 5-10 conscious breaths can calm your mind and give you a rejuvenating time out. Don’t let stress creep up and leave you feeling frazzled by the end of the day, that way may lead to comfort eating.  Try this breathing technique as often as  you remember (you may even want to stick up a post-it note to yourself).  Take the time to think about your body and how you want it to look.  This mindful technique may help you avoid a donut or re-prioritize a trip to the gym.

Belly buster tip 3:  Pull your shoulders back and your tummy in

Schedule a stretching break instead of a coffee break. You can do simple stretches and exercises from the comfort of your office chair or while you’re on the phone.  Try pulling in your tummy when your sitting or standing for 30 seconds at a time and you’ll be strengthening your core stomach muscles. And, if you have a minute, then take a moment to stand up straight, pull your shoulders back and walk tall. Improving your posture can help make you feel more alert and in better shape.

***

Although there are no quick-fix solutions, you’ll instantly feel better if you begin to exercise, take control of your figure and make the time to think about you.  Whatever your problem area – be it a wobbly belly, thunder thighs or a double chin – with a consistent exercise routine and patience you can improve your physique.

By Samantha Clayton, October 2, 2012

A Little Fat Is Actually Good For You

Check out this article about fat in your diet

http://www.discovergoodnutrition.com/2012/11/need-to-eat-fat/

Protein Tips for Vegetarians

Vegetarians are usually advised to eat slightly more protein than omnivores – this is to ‘make up’ for the slightly different makeup of the amino acids in the foods that are eaten – and also because of slight differences in digestibility between animal and plant proteins.

In truth, though, vegetarian diets can offer up plenty of protein, as long as they’re well-balanced.  Let’s talk about the options.

For more info go to http://www.discovergoodnutrition.com/2012/11/vegetarians-max-your-protein/

Healthy Snacking

Healthy snacking throughout the day is key to keeping your portions at meal time in check! Herbalife’s Protein bars are the perfect snack to take with you to work or if out running daily errands. With 10g of protein per bar they keep your metabolism running and help your body burn unnecessary calories. A chewy consistency, by far the tastiest protein bar I’ve ever tried.

Inside Protein Energy Bar

Health Snack

Smart Bar - why eat junk food when you can have a Thermogetic® High-Protein energy bar that  tastes good, and is good for you. Packed with vitamins from A to K, and minerals Calcium to Zinc.

Lose Weight Faster - Some dieters cut back on protein, which actually slows the weight loss process. Keep your protein levels at the required daily level with protein energy bars instead of falling into this "pitfall".

Energy Boost - Combines the right amount of calories, carbohydrates, protein and nutrients to nourish your cells fast. If you are looking for an energy boost but don't want a lot of sugar, reach for a delicious high protein energy bar.

Fiber - 5 grams or 20% RDA. This essential nutrient helps to keep our digestive system clean and functioning properly. In fact fiber is so important to your diet that body building authorities recommend consuming at least 25-35 grams per day.

Vitamins and minerals - approximately15-30% RDA of vitamins A, B6, B12, C, E and K and minerals Calcium, Copper,  Iodine, Iron, Magnesium, Selenium and Zinc.

Did You Know - Protein is the most abundant biological molecule in your body, comprising of about 50% of the cellular dry weight. While foods like meat, cheese, milk, soy products, fish and eggs provide adequate amounts of protein, you also can get the protein your body needs with a High-Protein, Energy Bar.

Whether you reach for Chocolate Fudge, Chocolate Coconut, Lemon or Peanut Butter, you’ll get 12 grams of protein–almost 25 percent of the recommended daily intake with a healthy protein bar.

You can find these and other tasty all natural snacks at http://valparaiso.herbalhub.com

The Diet Tug of War

What to do if one of  you wants to diet, but the other doesn't.

http://www.discovergoodnutrition.com/

Nutritional Health For Kids

 Healthy Foods For Kids

With these tips from Herbalife and Susan Bowerman, getting kids to eat top-rated foods does not have to be a struggle

http://video.herbalife.com/#!/video/639108/35573

For a quick nutritional snack that your kids will love try. Herbalife shakes for kids. Herbalife Kids™ Shakes provide essential nutrition including protein, fiber and 100% of key nutrients to meet growing kids’ daily needs. Because they taste great, kids will ask for one every day—that’s the start of healthy eating habits they’ll rely on as they grow older.
This and other all natural health and nutrition products can be found at Ian's Herbal http://valparaiso.herbalhub.com

What is the proper amount of exercise?

What's The Proper Amount of Exercise?

Exercising 3 days a week for at least 30 minutes daily is an important way to build strong bones and muscles, leading to less problems during aging. Learn tips for leading a healthy, active lifestyle from Herbalife's Luigi Gratton. M.P.H.

http://video.herbalife.com/#!/video/1251813/35573