In Pursuit Of zzzzzzzzzzzzzz's - Part II

Hey peeps!  First of all, thank you all so much for the much needed advice and tips.  I am working my way through each one.  (I try a different one each night).  I have gotten up to 5 hours sleep now for the past two nights so I am getting a little better, one hour more than last week.  I tend to consistently fall asleep after around 4:00 in the morning though so I don't know what that is all about. About two days ago  I also decided to start drinking Apple cider vinegar and honey since it has so many great health benefits.  (see more about this here www.earthclinic.com)  It seems to be helping.

One of the other things I recently discovered through a little research is ginger tea.  I have had it before  but I had never bought the actual ginger root and brewed the tea myself.  Well, anyhow, I did it yesterday and it made me feel so much more relaxed and just better overall. It totally cleared up my sinus issues as well which was a complete shock to me.  I kid you not, I had a sinus headache and was about to take an aspirin but drank the tea instead and two minutes later the headache was gone.  I am now a huge fan of this incredible vegetable.

Here is a short list of the benefits of ginger:
Relieves Nausea
Clears Sinuses
Migraine Relief
Menstrual Cramp Relief
Ovarian Cancer Treatment (Kills the cancer cells)
Colon Cancer Prevention (inhibits the growth of new cells)
Prevention of Diabetes
Anti-inflammatory (great for relieving joint pain)
Clears congestion
Anticoagulant (great for blood flow and stops hardening of the arteries)
impotence (improves condition)
Relieves Stress
Strengthens Immunity....just to name a few.

When this whole thing started I was more than a little bummed out but now since I am learning so much about natural remedies and how to be even healthier, maybe it will be more advantageous for me in the end.  Imagine that.

Cherio!

All salads Were Not Created Equal

One of my favorite foods is salads.  No kidding, I love 'em!  Perhaps it is the fact that there are so many types and ways one could make a salad.....I don't know.  All I know is, I love variety and salads do it for me.  


And so this week I set out to find three salads that I have never tried before.  Salads that earned off the charts reviews.....and are not too difficult to make.   I like to keep it simple.  So here are the 3 nominees for scrumptious salads of  the week:  drum roll please.........


These first two by  www.thefoodiediaries.com will hit the spot for sure. So yummy!

Ingredients: baby spinach, mozzarella, roasted cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper,   onion, celery, cucumber and the dried cherry + pom concoction. 

Ingredients: fresh spinach, roasted butternut squash, cauliflower, grilled onion and sun-dried tomatoes, dressed in Newman’s Own Asian Sesame dressing. You have to try this!

Now this one had me at custard, not to mention the recipe is by miss Paula Deen.  Oh my goodness....this looks so pretty I almost didn't want to eat it. ALMOST. Am so happy right now...so happy.

Find the recipe here.

And there you have it, 3 delicious recipes that will bring you lots of happiness and mad satisfaction.  I guarantee it!

Cherio!

Just Do It!

8 weeks ago, I set out on a journey along with three other inspired ladies to achieve our ultimate health and fitness goals by starting a support group.  And we did.  Every Saturday we email a report to each other on how the week transpired.  Whether we succeeded or failed during the week, we tell it all.

 If someone had a bad day and did succumb to junk food instead of a healthier choice, there is never condemnation.  The focus is always, "Learn from this and keep moving."  The love and support shared by the the ladies in this group never fails to touch my heart.   It really has been a tremendous blessing. 

In the sixth week after joining the group I began to notice a very unexpected dynamic happening within my own life.  I realized that I was naturally applying principals learned in my health and fitness journey to my everyday life............principals like, learn from your mistakes and move on, never give up and "challenge yourself " have become my daily mantras.  And it's not that I didn't know this before or hadn't tried to do this in the past.  Somehow now though, it's much easier to do, very effortless, like breathing.

I am learning that real power is not about feelings too.  Pressing on in spite of those feelings is where the real victory is.  And yes, I know there will be days ahead when I want to throw in the towel but I also know that "wanting to do something is not the same as doing it".  Sometimes  I want pie instead of whole wheat bread, ..........and sometimes, I really don't feel like exercising for 45 minutes .......but I do anyway.  It's all about staying focused and never giving up.  We all have the power to change our own lives.  Whether the goal is big or small, it is all achievable if you believe in yourself and keep working towards your goals.  So, let's just do it!

Cherio!

Weight Loss/Fitness Inspiration Mel B

Mel B is truly an inspiration to me from a fitness point of view.  And although I know nothing about her except that she had been a member of the Spice Girls, and recently had a baby....... that is enough. You don't get a body like this without sacrifice and hard work.  Especially after having a baby......that's for sure.  And since Mel B and I have the same body type/frame I know that with a little work and determination I too can get ripped! 

So, with this in mind I started my mini weight loss and fitness plan.  My goal was to lose 10 pounds and unleash some T&T. (tone and tighten)  That was six weeks ago.  Since then I have totally changed my exercise and diet regimen. I eat mostly fruit and vegetables now and I exercise fives times a week.  At first it was hard, especially the strength training but now I am getting accustomed to it, even liking it.  Who knew! 

 

As the pounds melt away and the muscles begin to develop, I am getting more and more excited every day.  I feel stronger and better than I did in my early twenties. Seriously.  I am so siked to keep going, I have only two more pounds to go!  Whooo hooo! Perhaps I will celebrate by posting a bikini shot of my own when I lose the last two pounds.......ha ha, probally not, but I will post "before and after" shots though.  After all, a picture is better than a thousand words right?  

What are your health/weight loss goals?  I would love to hear them.

Cherio!

In Pursuit of Happiness And Good health

Though I am usually a pretty calm and laid back person, there is one thing that can causes me to become unglued, and that is a health scare.  I literally go from zero to panic mode in two seconds flat.  Since I am a very strong person spiritually and emotionally, this is very perplexing and out of character for me. What is this weird gravitation to self diagnose on the web for every blister, bump or pain I get.  Am I the only one doing this? 

A few years ago I had developed a very bad case of carpal tunnel syndrome, at the time I had no idea what it was so of course I googled the symptoms. Big mistake.  Google basically informed me that I had Parkinson's disease and I was convinced that this was true.  I was inconsolable.  Thank God I was alright after a few days but since that episode there has been other occasions where yet again I did the same thing.  Am I not a woman of faith? This is one habit that needs to be permanently kicked to the curb! 

Yesterday I had an epiphany or what Oprah refers to as an "Aha moment".  I had a pain and was googling it as usual.  This time though, in the midst of my search it occurred to me that I could either choose to believe that I was in good health or look for reasons to prove I wasn't.  It was only then that I truly got it.  If Life is what I make it then I choose to be happy and in good health.  I am going to laugh more, sing more, and dance more.  And, instead of promising to start exercising tomorrow, I will do it today.  Now where did I put those dumbbells....