Jenn's Losing It

Water. I know I don't drink enough of it. So I figured this would be the best monthly challenge to get back in the groove of things. For the next 31 days the challenge is simple. Drink water ~ eight ounces, eight glasses per day.  Comment or share this post if you're in on the challenge. It's summertime here in Connecticut and the weathers been hot, so drinking water should be no problem!

Well. Week one. Always the hardest when you're making a change. Especially when you're a foodie like myself and when I say foodie, I mean junk foodie. Guilty. I've been drinking more water, moving more and watching my portion sizes. Tough to do when you've been on a food free-for-all for the last month.  So after making just the one small change of being accountable for what I eat and sharing it with all of you, I lost 3.2lbs this week. I'm very excited and having such a great first week definitely gives me the motivation to keep going.  I started a WW Active Link Challenge this week as well. This way I can get a clear picture of what my current activity level is and how to add more activity in. I can't even wrap my head around fitting time in for exercise right now, BUT, if I want to be successful I will need to find time. Today also marks the beginning of a new month and I'll be starting a new challenge for the blog as well. I'm doing a 31 Day ...

Om time may help you gain control of your cravings.  Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found that people who regularly practiced yoga were more mindful of their eating habits.  While there is no guarantee that sun salutations will cure you of wanting seconds, doing a few moves can’t hurt. FITNESS MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2011

Here are some secrets from the Biggest Loser Couples winner Olivia Ward and her sister-teammate Hannah Curlee … Secret #1 You deserve to be in great shape.  The first step in dropping the weight is realizing that you don’t like where are and know that you deserve to fix it. Secret #2 Stop being so hard on yourself. Believing that you can do something will make you actually do it! Secret #3 You don’t have to spend hours in the gym.  Try to find one favorite workout and squeeze that in daily (kickboxing class, spinning, yoga, Zumba) Secret #4 Eat more, not less.  Start each day with a proper breakfast.  Ditch the deprivation diet and never let yourself get to the point where you’re famished with no healthy food around.  Carry a healthy snack with you at all times for that just in case moment. Secret #5   Ask for what you want.  When eating out speak up for how you want your food prepared (hold the dressing, half the cheese) Secret #6 ...

Need a pick-me-up?  Getting active in the great outdoors is doubly good for your mental health.  “Nature protects us from stress and helps us think more clearly”  says Jo Barton Ph.D. a senior researcher at the University of Essex in the United Kingdom.  Her recent study found that 88% of people were in a better mood after walking on a nature trail, while 45% who walked in a mall felt worse.  Too busy for a hike?  Even five minutes of what researchers call green exercise will do you good. Fitness Magazine October 2011

Eat a lighter lunch and you could drop 26 pounds this year and never feel hungry.  A recent study in the journal Appetite found that people who opted for a portion controlled dish at midday took in about 250 fewer calories daily and felt as full immediately afterward as those who served themselves from a buffet.  The act of sitting down to a meal is satisfying regardless how big or small it is, lead author David A Levitsky PHD says.  Smart, slimming lunch choices include low calorie frozen meals, like Amys Light & Lean Pasta & Veggies, and single serve soup cups. Fitness Magazine January 2012

Here’s the latest word on what you must do to keep your heart in fighting form. If you’re a woman of a certain age, you need to start thinking about heart disease right now.  The American Heart Association suggests following the seven heart healthy guidelines below. Cholesterol: should be less than 200, one way to help you keep this in check is more fiber.  Pick whole fruits over juice Blood Pressure: should be 120/80, drive down blood pressure by lowering your daily sodium intake Sugar Level: should be less than 100, reduce your by sharing the occasional dessert and cutting back on sweets Smoking: don’t start or quit! If you’ve tried to quit before and failed, go to heart.org for resources Body Mass Index(BMI): should be less than 25, Unsure of what your BMI is?  Use this iPhone app (BMI calculator, free, APPS.USA.GOV) Exercise: should get at least 2/5 hours a week of activity, adopt a dog, the worlds cheapest personal trainer, to guarantee you walk daily. Health...