The Power of One

Writing a blog is hard work mostly because you need time. Time is expensive and hard to find. This is one of the reasons we eat unhealthy and don't exercise. It's just so darn hard to find TIME. Today, however, I ran into this blog. I'm picky about what I post on my blog because I feel it not only describes what I spend my time on but also who I am inside. I have decided to share this blog because I believe what this girl has achieved is outstanding. She lost weight the right way, maintained her healthy weight , has awesome tips AND has TIME to write her blog. She's like super fab you know?!
So go ahead , read away , the power of one is power for all.
http://undressedskeleton.tumblr.com/

Love! Be healthy, be balanced.

A Runners Mind

Check out this diagram on the process that our bodies go through while and before running. It also explains why it is so good for you. Truth is, no one wakes up one day and runs a marathon. Like everything worth something in life, we have to work little by little. Our mind learns and so does our body as we accomplish amazing things.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/petrus01/5117315843/sizes/l/in/set-72157600503024532/

Tai Chi

Meditation in motion. It is also the key to become relaxed, balanced and flexible. If you wish to start to study this beautiful art here in Reno let me know and I will give you the information. Here is a link to a tai chi demostration:

http://youtu.be/P4Z4sQNQtJM

Snack Attack!

Hungriness happens! This is why you have to be prepared all the time to have a wonderful healthy snack. Check this list for snacks at work and the link below to learn about what to eat everywhere!!! Just because you are short in time, doesn't mean you should be short in yum!


Snacks for your desk:

1/4 bear Naked Peak Energy cranberry Almond Trail Mix.

1 Luna Chocolate Dipped Coconut Bar.

1 Cup low-fat kefir + 1 peach. (Kefir? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kefir)

1 packet plain instant oatmeal ( made with water)+ cup of blueberries.

etc, etc!!!

Check me out:
http://www.realsimple.com/health/nutrition-diet/healthy-eating/low-calorie-snacks-00100000063976/index.html

Y-O-G-A

Yoga stands for:

Y- You will love to strech in the mornings
O- Or you'll be tired all day
G- Great muscles you'll develop
A- As you fit in that pair of jeans that you really want.

Ok, that was a really girly approach. However yoga really is an amazing form of exercise and here are 5 reasons why:
1- If you are just starting out as an athlete , stretching is super important in the development of your muscles as well as injury prevention. Depending on the kind of yoga you do, you can start by just doing flexibility yoga and moving up until you do weight loss or other types of yoga.
2- Two words: Lean Muscle. I am not a big fan of bulky muscle, never have been and never will be. If you think like me click like... oh wait this isn't facebook.
3-Sun salutation. Have you ever stood on your mat as the sun comes up behind the mountains and you breath fresh air ? If your answer is no, no worries there is always time.
4- Free. There is no need to sign up at an expensive gym. There are DVDs at walmart maybe even the gas station ( I have yet to check there) for you to purchase and use over and over again or you can youtube (yes, youtube is now a verb) yoga and get your workout from there.
5- Time. You will stretch, use your coordination, sweat, push yourself past your comfort zone, and get awesome muscles whether you workout for 10 mins or 40 mins. Trust me, yoga is as hard as you make it.

BONUS!: Yoga is unisex. Both men and women can do yoga without looking fem, unless of course you are a girl. There is an specific instructor, his name is Rodney Yee who will rock your world.


Give it a try, you may have just found your true calling in life ;)

Believe in God.
Believe in forgiveness.
Believe in the good in everyone.
Believe in the transcendence of a smile.
Believe in letting go of yourself to become a better you.
Believe in miracles, karma, luck, whatever you call it :).
Believe in the power of love, it can heal you, your heart and those around you.

haha *snort* jaja

Have you ever had one of those days that you just want to climb up in bed and stay under your covers all day? I think it would be accurate to say we all have , or at least have come close to that at some point of our lives. Here's a method to brighten up your day any day:

Laughter is one of the most effective methods of preventive medicine. It fights stress and boosts the immune system. When you laugh , your blood vessels expand allowing more blood flow. This is rather handy as your body releases endorphins allowing them to be distributed evenly to the rest of the body. This process of laughter can be enhanced by laughing with others as it strengthens relationships and intimacy which are necessary for mental health and stability.

And that's the nerd way of saying if you hear someone cracking up , go towards them because even though they may be laughing at something stupid it will make you both feel better and you may just have made a brand new friend.

When life gets tough, well... laugh it off!

check out this guys creepy laugh:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/other-emotions/laughter.htm


Question: Guess which of the three girls in the picture is the most healthy?

A-lot e vera

Nature is perfect in its imperfection.

It only takes a walk or a hike to realize that no matter where you are in this world , nature will provide for itself and for all other creatures. This theory includes humans, this is why the good ol' wise Mother Nature created Aloe Vera. I do not want to sound obsessed but Aloe Vera is the elixir of life (ok,ok maybe not that much) but it truly is the best thing since chocolate. I'm not lying ladies!!

Aloe Vera is a succulent, which means is technically a cactus. It is no lilie, its ugly but so are the best things in life ugly in the outside but healing and beautiful in the inside( I had to! wouldn't you have said the same thing?:) . Here is the description:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera

Why i tell you this you ask? Aloe Vera has multiple curative properties. Have you seen my "big fat Greek wedding"? Remember the dad that sprayed Windex on everything? Well that was my great grandma with Aloe Vera. Do you have a burn? your hair is thinning? ulcers? etc No matter what, Grandma would prescribe aloe Vera. I, like a good granddaughter, ignored this wise counsil until about 4 days ago. I have suffered from acne since I graduated from high school ( rude , I know!) I'm not into the whole " the way i look " thing so I ignored it until it became painful. I tried everything, and with the help of an aesthetician and aloe Vera i can finally touch my face without pain. I cut a piece of the plant, cut it in half and apply the aloe directly to my face. If you have healthy skin, wash it off or apply lotion over it at night. Your face will be as soft as a baby bottom.

There are other people just as excited as me about this topic, here is a website that has some good research on it:

http://www.naturalnews.com/021858.html

Don't be shy! go get yourself an aloe plant and go crazy!

K

This is perhaps the shortest blog post in the history of blog posts.
The lesson: when you work out hard, eat bananas.
The reason: They contain potassium , which is an element that helps cell, tissue and muscle function. Also, they play a major role in muscle contraction ( the reason why you get sore ). I promise if you eat a banana after a work out you will not be nearly as sore the next day.
Conclusion: Bananas rock because of their K.

Source:

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/potassium-000320.htm


Stay healthy and happy!

Read it and dont weep

It is truly hard to be fit if you're still hitting the Chinese food place at 3 am. If you're in your early 20's you may be able to work it off, but as soon as you hit your 30's Buddha will hunt you for that. Now don't despair, I have found that reading health magazines help change your state of mind more so than other magazines and perhaps the cure from that spicy orange chicken.

My personal favorite is Health magazine. Not only because it includes articles on how to be healthier ( including interviews with celebrities), but also includes workouts you can do at home and easy recipes to keep your weight down. ( I should be getting paid for the advertisement here haha)

Public libraries have an AMAZING amount of books on yoga, healthy cooking, meditation, etc. I know that walking through that shelf may seem like a sin for some, but truly walking the fantasy shelf is just as bad haha. Do not be afraid to pick up a book once in a while to keep yourself motivated in how to stay fit and happy.


Other options are:

http://www.self.com/

http://www.shape.com/

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/

http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/

Look through these and you will be sure to find one that fits your needs. After that you can just periodically read it over the internet or its print version.


Keep yourself motivated and happy!

Gym, Sweet Gym

Walk into a room full of sweaty strangers and you are in paradise!

Hmm not precisely.

The gym can be a scary place, especially if you are a rookie at it. Don't let that get you down because there are tricks to be a successful gym goer/being the fittest person on earth!

1. Learn why you should exercise.
The Mayo Clinic is where I want to be. That place is legit! and to help me in helping you, they have a website with 7 steps to why you should exercise.
Check it out

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676

Now that you're all pumped up let's move to the next step:

2. What kind of clothing should you wear?
Depends on what you want from your work out. I personally do not recommend short clothing or sports bras only but again because they are uncomfortable,however its up to you to decide.
Also, make the investment of buying clothes that help with perspiration. It will make the whole difference in the world. It helps you maintain water balance and keep you cool so you can work out longer.

3. At what time should I go to the gym?

Again, another answer you will only get by looking at your personal life. However, remember that if you have a hard time falling asleep , working out at night is probably not your best option. If you wake up your metabolism before bed it is going to take more than chamomile tea to get you to fall asleep.

Check out this article to help you make your decision:

http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/23/exercise-timing-gym-forbeslife-cx_avd_0226exercisetime.html

4. Don't be afraid , but don't go crazy

One mistake many people make when going to the gym is working out extra. I am not saying you should be a conformist, however do not work your body to the point of exhaustion your first time. That will make the gym a dreadful place, and you will be very sore. Take it easy, learn how much your body can do and do it consistently.

If you have any questions about the equipment do not be afraid to ask! Personal trainers LOVE to help you become fitter, hence the reason they work at a gym ;)

5. H2O rocks!

On average, the human body is made 57% out of water. If you loose water through perspiration you better be supplying enough. If you don't you will cramp out, and cramping out in the treadmill is NOT very hot!


OK! that was a long blog!Yet, I didn't even include points 6-10 which will come later so stay posted.
Use the gym, but don't abuse it.Gym rats are not hot either!
Moderation is what your body knows how to do best,listen to it !

Sleep is Magical

Some of my first words to my friend this morning were: " 1/11/11 Make a wish!" All with the intention of making this day completely magical. Little did I know that destiny had a pretty hard trip planned out for me.Finally I am home and I can sleep it off. Unlike common believe, sleeping is not missing out actually sleep can be beneficial not only mentally but physically. We healthy people of the world, search, respect and practice all that which can only be of good nature. Therefore, let us explore all of the above about snoozing.


Commercial:
We are shunned if we use wikipedia for professional research at school, so I will get it out of my system by using it all here. Truth is , wikipedia is a great source of information plus it allows you to classify what you read into what you believe to be truth or not. A great skill we should all apply when reading and analyzing all media, don't always believe what you see or read (especially in politics).


*cough , cough* back to the health benefits of sleep:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep

Sleep is fabulous! that's my summary. OK, maybe not all of that but it is great. Think about it this way, when you go to bed you turn off your computer right? why? well because it needs a rest. Your body is way cooler than your computer. True story. When you sleep your body slows down its metabolism in order to concentrate your energy in rejuvenating cells and anything else that needs to be fixed in your body.That is why you feel so good after a good night sleep! Apart from that , your body can burn 500+ calories just snoozing. YES! that's the equivalent to running about 5 miles at a moderate pace. Add to that the emotional benefits of reduced stressed and reduced depression. I sold you didn't I?! Well I sure hope so.

Try this website to find out how many calories you burn in your daily activities:

http://www.healthstatus.com/cgi-bin/calc/calculator.cgi


In summary, sleep is one of your best friends in weight loss. Never , ever skip sleeping your necessary 7-8 hrs at night for an hour at the gym. Remember, weight loss is not natural and your body needs time to rejuvenate and reconstruct all those sexy muscles you are working so hard to get. When you hit the sheets tonight do it with a smile , you're doing the right thing.

Sweet dreams!

New Year, New Life

That is perhaps the biggest cliche in the history of new year's resolutions. Really? a new life? So how come I still wear the same clothes and have the same job?, and don't forget to mention I still weight the same amount as last year, plus five pounds from the holidays? The answer is easy, its because your life isn't new, but your attitude can be.

For some, new years means weight loss. It is practically impossible to stay away from that fruit cake, eggnog, chocolate galore, and every other fattening substance that there is on planet earth. My friend Aaron mentioned once that humans eat calories because it is in our evolutionary genes. We are stocking up for the winter, well I have to tell you we live in an era where calories are no longer a luxury. No need to stock, ya know?! and yet we eat like there's going to be an ice age tomorrow.

I will confess that I have always struggled with myself physically for a very long time, coming from a country where everyone is at least two sizes smaller than me was really not a big help either. Thank you United States for giving me a self esteem boost! however, like the good girl that I am, I am far from being content. After I stopped doing martial arts my muscle world fell and I just became fat. It took the pictures of new year's 2010 to realize I had to do something. So what to do when the world tells you to be thin and its impossible? You can cry in a corner, puke everything you eat ( sooo not good for you) or become healthy.

Vote for option C.

No, to the surprise of many, thin not always means healthy. As a matter of fact, it can mean the complete opposite. Your body is a wonderful machine that works on nutrients. Ya, those things that come with the food. Some foods have more than others , your job is to figure this out. You may be saying at this moment:" Does that mean I have to work at it??" Well yeah! becoming a healthy person is not something that happens overnight, it starts with your attitude and then becomes a way of life. Lucky for you , other geeks like me have done the research, all you have to do is read it here and apply.

I will post a fun fact or a step at least once a week to help you become the healthiest person you have ever been!

STEP 1:

Find a buddy.

Life sucks when you're alone! That is why in the world of the healthy one must always have a friend. I mean have you seen the eighty year old women that walk on the side of the road when you're late to work and are afraid you might hit them? That's exactly what I am talking about. It's actually very easy , especially at this time of the year with everyone trying to loose those 5-10 lbs from the holidays. However, do not storm into your office screaming and crying that you need a friend ( its not very professional), just casually bring it up while you snack or go out to lunch. Once you have your buddy, chat a bit about those things that are hard about dieting and exercise. You might find that you have more than just matching keyboards to compare! We are all in the same boat.

This year promises to be a great year, you can make it the best so far. Your attitude has the greatest impact. As you read this blog promise yourself to make healthy choices and have a happier life. All of which will help you become the fittest, healthiest person you have ever been.


Happy 2011 !!