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Author: Essentially savvy
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Lets talk about weight loss and maintenance!
I recently completed a 12 week weight loss challenge through my fitness center. When I started this challenge, I was feeling overwhelmed and to be honest, I didn't think I could do it. I mean 12 weeks, that's 3 months! I immediately gave myself an out, I said "well if it gets too hard I will stop." I didn't stop, and it wasn't nearly as tough as I thought it would be. I am proud to say not only did I complete the 12 week weight loss challenge, I still follow the program about 80% of the time. This program gave me so much, it improved my fitness level tremendously, it changed my body dramatically (I lost 14 lbs) and most importantly it built my self esteem. The thing that drove me forward was having a goal and when the challenge was over I actually felt sad and at a loss. Surprisingly, I was scared to eat again after being so regimented, it felt unsafe to just eat what I wanted. I knew that after 12 weeks I would be so conditioned that I would most likely make this a lifestyle chan...
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How to Alleviate Headaches Naturally
Having an intense headache may be one of the worst experiences one can have. If you are like me then you have suffered from headaches most of your life. Some are easy to get rid of, but every once in awhile a killer headache will emerge and not relent, not matter what I do. I recently found a great solution to this problem and the best part is that it is totally natural and does not include medication.
It happened last summer after a long plane trip, my daughter suffered from what I believe to be a migraine. She had blurred vision, nausea and intense headache pain. After nothing helped including medication. I pulled out my aromatherapy eye pillow that I had recently made, sprayed it with lavender essential oil and purified water and popped it in the microwave for 30 seconds. We put it over her eyes and with 15 minutes she was already feeling relief.
I had a similar headache months later and remembered the eye pillow. I sprayed it with lavender essential oil, he...
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Take the Advocare 24 day challenge!
If you are serious about weight loss, increasing energy levels, and improved health then the 24 day challenge is for you. This program is easy to use and comes with many useful tools to help you succeed including a nutrition guide, tracking apps, assessment forms and an online coach to keep you motivated.
The first 10 days are the cleanse phase. What does this mean? You will take a fiber supplement in the form of a drink in the morning, take a herbal supplement before bed and take probiotics which will restore the good bacteria in your gut. Exercise is not required during this phase but can be done if you like. What you eat during these days is very important. You need to avoid dairy, wheat, soda, processed foods and alcohol.
The second phase includes days 11 through 24. In this phase you will begin to implement vitamin supplements as well as meal replacement shakes and bars. The vitamins come in easy strip packs with instructions for taking them. These vitamins give...
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Fitness in your 40’s
As we age it becomes more and more important to eat healthy and exercise. And when I say exercise that does not mean running marathons, doing bootcamps or taking high intensity aerobic classes. Those higher-impact exercises just don't feel as good as they once did. In fact, the aging of the baby boomer generation is one reason low-impact fitness choices like elliptical trainers, recumbent bikes, yoga, and Pilates have become so popular. Low impact exercises are easier on our joints and can be just as effective as the higher intensity exercises we loved in our 20's and 30's. My personal favorite is bike riding. I do a daily 30 minute bike ride and have seen great results from this. I also do a weight program that targets all muscles groups ( minus the quads and calves, I get enough of that on the bike) using light weights and only for 20 minutes. This time frame keeps you moving through the exercises which keeps your heart rate up and targets 2 muscle groups in 1 set of exercise...
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How Essential Fatty Acids affect the Brain
People who suffer from depression are often deficient in essential fatty acids. Because the brain is 60% fat, brain tissue is heavily dependent on fatty acids to control moods and behavior. The firing and receiving of messages in the brain (synapses) are critically dependent on brain fats. Since our bodies do not manufacture most fats we are completely dependent on receiving fats through our nutritional intake. There are 2 essential fatty acids needed by the brain, these are omega-3 and omega-6. Both omega-3 and omega-6 are equally important and deficiencies in either group can cause problems, and should be addressed by changes in your diet.
Good sources of omega-3 from food include the following;
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- cold water fish
- eggs
- chicken
- flaxseed oil
- borage seed oil
- whole-grain breads
Top 10 Hiking Tips
With summer months upon us, many will venture out on hikes to experience nature at its finest. But before you head out into the deep unknown here are some very useful tips that may even save your life.
- Never hike alone!
- Always tell someone where you are hiking, the route you are taking and when you should be home.
- Always carry identification, a cell phone and emergency contact information.
- Before you leave, check the weather forecast and pay attention to the weather when hiking.
- Study the maps before you go and always carry a compass and GPS.
- On the trail, know where you are going and where you are in relation to the map.
- Take plenty of food and more water then needed. Also bring easy snack bars and electrolyte replacement powder that can be added to your water.
- Wear and bring plenty of sunscreen and bug repellent.
- Don't overestimate your abilities (this can lead to injuries).
- Stay on marked trails, respect wildlife and properly dispose of your tras...
Staying Hydrated!
DRINK UP!
With summer soon upon us, now is the time to increase our water intake! We often forget, especially children, to increase our water consumption in the warmer months. I personally, live in a very warm climate and as soon as it starts warming up I feel instantly dehydrated. I have to adjust to the new warmer temperatures by increasing my water intake drastically. Even in milder climates summer months bring the need for more water.
A great idea is to purchase a large glass water cooler with a spout and fill it daily with fresh water, ice and fruit and then leave it out on the counter for easy access. This will entice the kids to keep drinking.
Water is great but electrolytes are needed also to replace lost sodium in sweat. A great electrolyte drink is called Rehydrate. Rehydrate Drink has a 1:1 ratio of sodium and potassium, two of the most vital electrolytes that are lost when we sweat. Rehydrate Drink helps prevent cramping by providing calcium, magn... 
Going through a divorce and unemployed…
For women who have been out of the work force for years due to taking care of children or being a full time homemaker, getting back on your feet after a divorce can be a very scary venture. The skills and education you have, may not be enough anymore when competing in the work force with all the new technology. The search for a good paying job that will not consume all of your time can be difficult especially if you have children to support. Working from home seems to be a great option in this day and age and there are many ways to do this. The company I found that seems to provide the best opportunity for creating and growing your own home based business is called Advocare.
Advocare is a premier health and wellness company offering world-class energy, weight-loss, nutrition, and sports performance products along with a rewarding business opportunity.
The start up cost is only $79.00 and that includes $55.00 of free products that will be shipped to you. The best way ...
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