The Advantages of Animals and Stress Relief

There are many experts who tout the advantages of animals and stress relief. According to science, did you know that the very act of petting a dog or a cat can actually lower your blood pressure?  I have had cats my whole life and I have to say that I agree!  Though my cat is quite moody from time to time, I think the only time I get stressed is when I call her to come to me and she totally ignores me.  So choose your pet wisely.

Aside from the occasional annoyance, animals and stress relief really do go hand in hand.

If you already have a pet you probably already know this. If you have a pet that is increasing your blood pressure because they misbehave, do yourself a favor and take them to a qualified professional and work on their behavior problems.

Don't think that you can't train cats or help them act better either, you can. My cat is living proof!  This type of "intervention" is not just for our canine friends, but for our feline friend as well.

Don't short yourself on the opportunity to have a healthy, loving and peaceful relationship with your pet just because of some bad habits. Don’t be so quick to ship them off; they may just need a little extra attention from you.  If you are willing to invest the time you can train your pet to overcome their bad habits and become a stress free and fun companion. Animals really just want you to love them and with some training most animals will turn into civilized and gentle loving companions for you.

Be certain to take some time to realistically consider your lifestyle and how much time you have to spend with a pet.  Too many would be pet owners do not take these things into consideration and they get a pet that is not a good fit for them or their lifestyle. You do not want to do that. It will make your life and that of your pets very uncomfortable.

Once you adopt a pet they become part of your life, it isn't fair to just get rid of them because it is no longer convenient for you; that would be totally selfish on your part.

Here are some things to consider:

1. If you are a really neat person and can't stand a mess you might be better off with a cat or at least a non-shedding dog breed. But remember, every animal that has hair, including humans, will shed a little it's just a matter of degree.

You may even want to get fish since they obviously won't shed on the carpet or have to have their litter box cleaned though you will need to clean the tank weekly.

2. If you like peace and quiet a cat or a fish may be a good option as well. If you want a dog find a breed that is not overly nervous or "yappy".

3. Consider how much time you spend at home. Animals, especially dogs, are social and they like companionship.

Sometimes getting two dogs may work since they can provide companionship for each other but at the end of the day, your pets want to spend time with you.  Are you up for it?

4. If you are active and like the idea of having an active companion you can take with you on your adventures consider a bigger breed of dog. A golden retriever can be a great companion to take on your hikes or walks. They are also mild mannered and good natured. But, they like to be around you a lot and they do shed.

All in all, if you want to have a pet, make sure that you take your time, ask questions and find the best fit for you. All pets can provide companionship but just like with your human companions you will be more compatible with some than with others.   Remember, you are not only looking for companionship, but a way to relieve stress on your journey to a healthy lifestyle.

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The Facts...Body By Vi vs. Herballife

In today’s face-paced world, who has time to sit down and eat a balanced meal full of all the good things that make a body healthy? Today people hurry around living life and are not consuming the right nutrition their bodies need to grow fit and trim. Missing in their diets are good quality nutritious meals that have the right balance of protein, moderate carbs, low in fat, and all the essential vitamins and minerals. A good quality, complete meal replacement like Body by Vi Vi-Shape Nutritional Shake is the answer to get into a healthy diet to move around in this face-paced world.

What is a Meal Replacement Shake?

Meal replacement shakes are made by combining pre-packaged nutrient-rich powders with water, juice or milk to make a satisfying drinkable meal that fills a person up and helps bring weight down. There are many varieties of shakes on the market that claim to be meal replacements alternatives providing the best nutrition, but how do they do on factors like ingredients, taste, and in today’s budget—cost.

ViSalus Vi-Shape Nutritional Shake beats them all hands down and even outpaces one of the so-called big guys, Herbalife Formula 1 Nutritional Shake, in head-to-head competition. The tale of tape says it all when looking at good quality ingredients.

Both Herbalife and Vi-Shape shakes have 90 calories and 1 gram of total fat, but Vi-Shape comes out on top by comparison.

Herbalife Formula 1:
Sodium: 140 mg
Carbohydrates: 13 g
Dietary Fiber: 3 g
Sugars: 9 g
Protein: 9 g

Vi-Shape Shake:
Sodium: 75 mg
Carbohydrates: 7 g
Dietary Fiber: 5 g
Sugars: <1 g
Protein: 12 g

Side by side, ViSalus Vi-Shape has more protein and less carbs, sugar and sodium than Herbalife. With more vitamins and minerals, pre-biotics, aminogen and a few other ingredients to help burn fat, ViSalus Vi-Shape’s slimmed down essential ingredient list easily knocks down Herbalife’s bloated 60-plus ingredients.

Join the 90 Day Fitness Challenge today and lose weight; pick your Challenge Kit and get started today!

Just saying....

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90 Days 2 Slim Fitness Challenge

I just found out about an amazing 90 day weight-loss fitness challenge that I am promoting!  Look at these amazing results in just 90 days!  You must check this out; go to my site www.90days2slim.com.  This fitness challenge is for anyone looking to lose weight and be healthy.  No matter what part of the world you live in….I can help you get fit!  Come on and take the challenge with me!

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Val

Eat Right and Lose Those Extra Pounds This Summer

This summer you can look and feel slimmer and more attractive in shorts or swimwear without going on those hard to follow crash diets. The safe method of losing weight lies in selecting health benefiting food and lessening your caloric intake, compared to those you use up. It’s a fact that in summer you shouldn’t get attracted to heavy foods brimming with calories. In summertime, to cut down your weight; go for light foods that are fresh and raw.

Summer is one of the best times to eat foods that cut calories. During this time gorgeous fresh fruits and vegetables are at its highest at the farmers’ market and the local supermarkets are overflowing with these goodies. To top it all, these food items are filled with nutrient rich minerals, fibers, vitamins, anti-oxidants, and carry far less calories than regular fare.

Try to consume fresh seasonal fruits and veggies as they are at their tastiest and best in the summer, and will make your favorite cooking dishes a delight to eat. They’ll keep you trim and slim and provide all the energy you need this summer. Patronize your local farmers’ markets to aid in their efforts to bring you fresh fruits and vegetables year after year, and you’ll save loads of money. Always choose to eat fresh, because fresh is healthy.  Another good time saver in your kitchen is to go for ready made prepared foods, especially greens and sliced ready fruits to keep that belly fat to a bare minimum this summer.  Here are some top foods to add to your summer diet:

· The watermelon surely ranks as the best thirst quencher, and the taste is simply great, especially the organically produced types.  Apart from other nutrients, they are a rich source of potassium, which helps control blood pressure.

· Keep grilled vegetables handy; they are ideal to boost your fat burn program.  Grilled vegetables come in a variety of cooking options like grilled carrots, onions, zucchini, garlic, peppers, eggplant, and asparagus among others. And they make a lip smacking healthy snack.

· Salads are one the top quick fix diet snacks around, but don’t toss in a ton of mayonnaise.   Try this - wash out the salad leaves thoroughly and chop them up, then add grill chicken or beef. Next, throw in the cut vegetables, fruit, seeds and nuts add greens, lettuce, cucumber, carrots and few drops of lemon juice to give it a tang and top it off with olive oil. Don’t add any fatty salad dressings if you want maintain the fat cutting benefits of salad.  Add herbs to give it a natural flavor. Also, you can try adding a can of tuna fish or cold cut meat; giving you a full and satisfying meal.

Finally, use only herbal sweetening and avoid sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened drinks. Your safest bet is….Water! Use fruits as a base for all your deserts.  Remember, have fun, eat healthy and keep trim this summer.

Live Fit Live Strong!

Val

A Healthy Diet Plan for the Summer

Summer is one season when everyone wants to keep fit and free from any diseases. Definitely, most of us would like to lose some weight so that we look healthy and feel good. But, how would you get there? What would you do to remain healthy and fit throughout the summer? Here are few tips that may help you to lose some weight and make your skin glow even in this hot summer. To begin with, you ought to have a summer diet plan.

                                               

*Photo Credits for People on the Beach by Klaus C. Dietrich

Try to be a smart eater: The best way to follow a healthy plan is to eat smart with plenty of vegetables and fruits. You may need to change your eating habits, unlike what you would eat say in winter. Different seasons require different diets to maintain the body. You would need to alter and organize your eating habit in summer, which should focus on your health and not on your weight. Eat at regular intervals during the day, maintaining to eat plenty of vegetable salads and fruits or fruit juices. These will only burn off the calories and strengthen the vitamin contents in your body.

Increase protein and decrease the carbohydrates: The important thing is to know what constitutes your food intake. Does it contain carbohydrates or is your intake protein based food.  In any case, one should avoid all kinds of fatty foods, especially when you are trying to lose weight. While having small meals always keep in mind that you should not take any kind of carbohydrates or fat related food, but instead take protein rich food. This would keep your body hydrated and healthy with a glowing skin, in spite of summer temperature.

Exercise, exercise and exercise: Exercise forms an integral part of a healthy diet plan. And one can feel the effects of exercise, which burn out excessive calories. Taking a walk, jogging or some gym workouts would rather help your healthy diet plan to enhance your body. It is always advisable to participate in some form of physical activity for fifteen minutes daily to burn excess calories.

Don't dehydrate during your workouts or exercise: Drink a lot of water or carrot or fruit juices during your workout and even throughout the day. This would not only quench your thirst, but would also cool your system. You may also try a few health drinks. These would regain your electrolytes, which are lost through sweating. Once you get dehydrated you will lose all your energy and your body won’t respond to the normal functions. Having a lot of fruit juices would keep your body hydrated.

Take some tips from fashion magazines: Whenever you go through fashion magazines, it would invoke in you the desire to have a body just like those models. Take them as your models, clip their pictures and paste them at a place where you can see them. A good place could be your wardrobe or bathroom mirror. There are chances that the picture will motivate you every day to reach your fit and healthy goal.

Maintain a record: If you can maintain or keep track of your summer health diet plans, you would definitely lose weight and remain healthy. You could note down whatever you eat and drink to estimate the accumulation of calories in the body daily.

So beat the summer, by eating plenty of vegetable salads and having lots of fruits and fruit juices to fine tune your body to look fresh with a skin glow, even during the summer.   Don’t forget to wear cool summer apparel.

Live Fit Live Strong!

Val

Jump Rope Benefits

I came across this great article that I wanted to share with you all.  Check it out!

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Yes! My Health Matters: Jump Rope Benefits: While more and more people are starting to join gyms in an effort to lose weight and get in shape, this isn't always necessary--you can get ...

How to Get a Sexy Six Pack

First before anything else, you must have and follow a clean diet.  In other words, that means you should be eating small healthy meals 5-7 times a day.  You ask “What should I eat”?  Well, your diet should consist of lean protein sources such as chicken, turkey and fish (baked, broiled or grilled), only healthy carbohydrates such as fruit, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, brown rice and plenty of vegetables; mostly green.  You should also be consuming healthy fats, like almonds, natural peanut butter and olive oil. You must stay away from cookies, candy, soda, artificially sweetened fruit juice and all foods that are high in sugar.

No fast food whatsoever!  They must be totally eliminated from you diet.  Also eliminate fatty, greasy foods and alcohol (if you do choose to consume alcohol it should be minimal, these are nothing but empty calories), don’t waste your caloric intake on empty calories. 

If you follow these tips, they will prevent you from sabotaging your fitness goals and underneath all the fat weight your sexy abs will be revealed.

Live Fit Live Strong!

Val

Want to Get Rid of Belly Fat?

Relax!  One key influence of your metabolism and burning fat is….stress.

Experts believe stress can send unwanted signals to our body, signals that lead to slower metabolism.  Essentially, when the body is under constant stress, it releases stress hormones that flood the system.  These stress hormones actually tell the body to create larger fat cells.  Guess where?  In the abdomen!  That’s right; and some of wonder why it is the hardest area to tone up.  Now you know that stress is one of the main reasons, of course in addition to your diet.  The results can be both increased weight and a slower metabolism when you’re stressed out.  Stress not only makes you put on weight or lose weight, but stress can silently kill you. 

Here are some easy stress relievers:

• Walk more (take the stairs instead of the elevator at work)
• Listening to relaxing music
• Meditate on a daily basis
• Practice yoga (teaches you how to really relax)
• Eat non-stimulating foods (e.g. no caffeine, no sugar, soda, etc.)
• Re-center yourself and de-stress (mentality and emotionally)

So there is a link between how much stress you experience and your ability to break down those stubborn fat cells and lose weight.  If you are one of those individuals that have a hard time relaxing, because you think you don’t have the time; just know that your stressed-out life is probably playing a huge role in your weight gain or your inability to lose weight.  Though you may be eating all of the right food and you still don’t see a change; don’t get frustrated, sit down in a quiet room and tell yourself that you have made up your mind to not let anything or anyone stress you out.  You must learn that sometimes you just have to walk away, tune them out and/or eliminate those things that bring you down and make you unhappy.  It’s what I’ve had to do and believe me, it works!  I feel great and I have been able to maintain my weight and I’m totally stress free.

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Kettlebells vs. Dumbbells

As I mentioned to my boot campers, I'll be incorporating "Kettlebell" training in my next Boot Camp.  As I was explaining this new venture in training that they will be undertaking, one of my clients asked me; "What's the difference between a Kettlebell and a Dumbbell?"  They asked me, "Isn’t a kettlebell just like a dumbbell? In some respects they’re the same but, what makes the kettlebell different is how it’s shaped. It may look like an ordinary weight, but the u-shaped handle actually changes how the weight works with your body.

With a dumbbell, the center of gravity lies in the your hand but, with the kettlebell, the center of gravity lies outside of your hand, which means it can change depending on how you’re holding it and moving it. The momentum of many kettlebell movements (a big no-no in traditional strength training), creates centrifugal force, focusing more attention on the muscles used for deceleration and stabilization. This type of multi-directional movement mimics real life movements such as swinging a suitcase to put it in an overhead bin, for example.

Dumbbells are great for building muscle and strength with slow, controlled movements while kettlebell training involves the entire body and focuses on endurance, power and dynamic movements.


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For Ladies Only...

Scientists have determined that the 2-week period prior to your menstruation is a premium fat burning time.  Australian studies have shown that women were able to burn off as much as 30% more fat in the 2 weeks preceding their period. 

During this time, the female body’s production of estrogen and progesterone are at their highest. Since these hormones tell the body to use fat as a source of energy, exercising during this time, can really pay off, because the body will be inclined to target fat cells for catabolism. 

I know this is a very difficult time for some women to get into the gym to workout for several physical reasons (cramps, backache, headache, etc.).  However, you should really push yourself, because once you get going, the payoff is so worth it.  You would be surprised at how much better you'd feel after a good workout.

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A Little Wine Can't Hurt....Really?

Do you know people who carefully choose low-fat, low-calorie meal choices, are very disciplined when it comes to resisting the Chef’s Special pecan pie for desert, yet order a glass or two of wine with their meal? 

These people are undermining their efforts to boost their metabolism. 

Drinking alcohol with meals actually encourages over eating, which means more calories that need to be burned away or transformed into fat. Many people are simply unaware that many alcoholic drinks are loaded with calories, almost as much as sugary soft drinks.

A bottle of beer or a cocktail is a few hundred calories.  Even though wine has less, it still adds to your calorie count. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that you stop drinking alcohol altogether; because on the weekends, I indulge from time to time as well to a couple of glasses of wine with dinner.  However, just be aware that it's adding to your calorie intake and whatever calories you take in, you must  burn them off to maintain your fit physique.

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Pretty Girls Do Have Muscles!

I've heard it too many times!  From listening to women in the gym and out of the gym, even some of my clients are guilty of this.  "I don't want to lift weights and gain muscle.  I don't want to look like a man."  Really, are you serious?  Guess what?  That's not going to happen; not in a million years.

Many people, especially women, are very leery about an exercise regimen that can lead to muscle building.  There is a perception that muscle building leads to muscle bulking, and before long, they'll look like a body builder.

 Provided that women aren’t supplementing their workouts with specific muscle-building supplements (illegal supplements), there is no need to be concerned, because building lean muscle won’t make them bulk up.

But why worry about building muscle in the first place?

Did you know that a pound of muscle burns more calories than a pound of fat?  So the more muscle you have, the more calories you'll burn. You don’t even have to do anything. You’ll simply burn more calories, because muscle requires more of an energy investment.

But if you build muscle and then leave it without exercise, over time, the muscle fibers weaken and you’ll lose that wonderful calorie-burning factory.  You'll also lose that fabulous physique that you have as well.  So ladies, don't worry about bulking up too much.  Just get in the gym and put some muscle on your body.  Trust me you'll love the results!

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