A Better Way to Try Quick Weight-Loss Strategies...

If you want to lose weight, there’s nothing more motivating than seeing fast results. With warmer weather on the horizon, trying a quick-fix diet certainly is tempting, and many speedy weight-loss solutions are popular for a reason; you get the immediate satisfaction of a seeing a lighter load on the scale (and of course a looser waistband). But strategies like juice fasts, skipping meals, and cutting way back on calories aren’t sustainable in the long term, so any weight loss is likely to come back once you return to your normal eating patterns.

Here is an great ideas for the "juice fast" that is  safer and you can still lose the weight you want!

Swap one meal for juice or smoothie instead: Use a blender that retains the entire fruit and/or vegetable in the liquid (like a Vitamix that retains the pulp). That way, you get the full benefit of dietary fiber—both the soluble and insoluble portions.   OR -this is more my style - skip the juice and instead try a 'fruit and veg binge.' Make most of your meals and snacks whole fruit and veggies with small amounts of protein and whole grains on the side.

Weekend Wrecker...

The Holiday Mentality:  Routine helps because your stomach gets used to being fed at certain times and you are more likely to stick to your chosen foods because it is simply easier!  On days off, a break in routine can be a pitfall.  We tend to treat weekends like Holidays, but the culprit is, they come 52 times a year, not just once!

Damage Control:  Sticking to your Monday-to-Friday routine is the sensible solution, but will you really do it?  If you know the answer is NO, it’s best to acknowledge it from the start and pencil in that CHEAT meal.  At least a planned cheat meal can prevent an all out blowout!  You might keep in mind where you are going to spend those extra calories and won’t waste them on the foods that aren’t so tasty.

On days when you know you’ll be away from home for hours, ensure you snack well by always having healthy options available like an apple, almonds and baby carrots!

Until Monday - Keep thinking veggies and protein!

Spices...

A sprinkle a pinch a dab, a dash: a tiny bit can whisk a plate of food from one country to another, one cuisine to the next. And luckily, spices from all over the world are accessible to home cooks willing to venture to the grocery store, or to one of many great spice purveyors online.

Cumin: Cumin, which can be used ground or as whole seeds, adds a warm, earthy quality. It's popular in Indian, Pakistani, Middle Eastern, Cuban, Brazilian, and Northern African cooking, as well as the Chinese cuisines of Sichaun and Xinjiang. If using the seeds, which last longer and have a stronger aroma than ground cumin, toast them gently in a dry pan or in the oven to enhance their flavor. Toast the seeds and add them to curries, chilis, stews, and soups; rub onto root vegetables and/or cauliflower with olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast; use in a spice rub with salt and pepper for roasted chicken; add to guacamole, hummus, or another creamy dip; toss into a stir fry with ground meat and vegetables; season soft-scrambled eggs - it’s endless!

Fitness Items That Cost More For Women...

I found this very interesting! 

A kettleball s an iron weight with a handle. It doesn't get any more simple when it comes to fitness tools Aside from choosing different weights, there isn't anything that would be different about a "women's kettlebell," and yet one premier kettlebell maker sells a plain black 18-lb bell for $44.95. The pink version? $55.95!  I am at least hoping that the proceeds go to the breast cancer society!

Is it worth it? Kettlebells are supposed to be hardcore. Rock the black color and save the $11 for a bright workout top!

Kettleballs are another item on my list for my home gym along with a hula hoop!

Junk Foods Can Make You Miserable...

Sugar, bad fats, processed carbohydrates.  These dietary devils are what make up the bulk of all junk food—and bulk isn’t the only thing they cause. Foods like processed “white” carbs, packaged cookies, potato chips, sugary sodas, and high-fat burgers and fries not only pack on pounds, they can cause physical symptoms and conditions that make you look and feel like, well, crap. These potential side effects of a diet high in junk food just might inspire you to make a beeline for the nearest Whole Foods.

One of these side effects can be a really bad mood! People who eat a lot of junk food are more likely to experience depression . Even if you don’t fall into a serious funk, pigging out on food that’s not good for you will make feel lousy—and when you don’t feel great your mood is bound to be lousy as well.