Follow Your Excitement (TO DO LIST)
Look at your To Do list right now. Does it make you smile?
Or consider an overview of yesterday… does the believed of duplicating it make you shift with anticipation?
If it does not then something is incorrect.
It’s our birthright to be energized. Yet, we waste it to meet up with objectives and proportion with the guarantee of fulfillment later.
We convert the wonderful joy of going our techniques into recurring periods on wet precious metal, pulse rate monitoring devices (ever see children doing that?).
We convert sex into a celebration and make climax our unique concentrate.
We disfigure the joy of perform into a task by consistently following a tedious set of projects.
But instead of asking our strategy completely, we stress ourselves to be more regimented and targeted. We make complex techniques, records and benefits for doing things we never really care about doing. We try to protect aging surfaces with vibrant background. And whenever the deterioration begins to demonstrate beneath, we make an effort to spot it up again.
On some level, we avoid pleasure. We think that art should include battle, success require compromise and objectives take an effort. The compensate comes later.
Sounds like B.S. to me.
My “fitness program” at five was driving a Big Rim, ascending plants and seeing how great I could leap off the shift (the greatest challenge). My strategy at 15 was a mix of baseball after institution, difficult struggling methods (I’ve yet to experience any exercising as strenuous as wrestling), and weightlifting in the gym. I always keep in mind from a very youthful age having a wish to have superhero-like actual capabilities. But it was not until institution that my exercising began to become determined and regimented. And it was around that period that I began to feel verdict and frustration set in.
When I just didn’t raise more weight than the weeks time before or skipped a perform out, the Speech of Judgment would set in. Activity began stopping to be a joy and more of a method for please my ego.
After institution I tried going to health clubs off and on but never found fulfillment in it. I would get energized about being “ripped” at first, then the shine would reduce. An aspect of me that was mixing from hibernation realized that I was trying to compartmentalized health. It sensed icky and inauthentic.
Regaining your joy includes losing the scripts
Now I see movement as not just a method for be powerful — something that has been a wish of my own since I was a hero driven boy — but as a way to communicate joy and creativeness. Jeet Kune Do assisted me regain that. MovNat has as well. Whether it’s going our techniques or going through lifestyle, being in existence in this some time to staying inquisitive keeps our pleasure in existence.
Whenever we become shaped to styles we concrete ourselves in them. We drop our capability to discover, walk and improve.
Curiosity = visibility. It is fresh air to pleasure.
Boredom and difficulty is caused by seeking to keep in mind programs and act out our life understanding what exactly is coming in each act. Not understanding is frightening. It’s also where chance and improvements lay invisible in mysterious tracks, awaiting us to ignite a fire in our minds and hearts and reveal the mysterious.
Following your pleasure is both about selecting interesting tracks, and the way you display up
Waking up energized is not just about starting on system moving activities (though it goes a long way). It’s about the way you appear. One is external: complicated and spectacular geography. The other an inward self-possession: prepared, existing, visibility.
Be talk about the material of your activities. Then ignore everything and be start to now, allowing the wonderful circulation of lifestyle bring you downstream toward your perspective. Know that as you shift along you may learn that what you believed you desired will modify. The unique location you imagined is simply a route. For your assistance system to perform with accurate it must be constantly changing course.
The alchemy of pleasure is one aspect talk will, and one aspect insecure fluidity.
The objective of following your pleasure is worth determined toward. It’s pleasure now. Not at some point.
Waking up energized is about…
Dying to the past
Admitting what sucks… and having the guts to fall it
Staleness and dullness — it makes the comparison and generate for us to replenish our wonderment
Outsourcing, leaving out and automating what does not inspire us
Childlike curiosity
Standing on the edge
Embracing elegance in the apparently mundane
Eating motivation for breakfast
Freshly produced ideas
Looking at the old with baby eyes
A choice
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Top Ten New Year’s Promises
The close of the season is around the corner. It’s the season where we both look again on the last season’s events and most especially, look forward to what the New Year will bring about.
Oftentimes, as we look again, we usually rue elements we’ve done wrong or forget to do. And to prepare us better for the returning New Year, we make a listing of positive modify in our way of life. It may contain elements we wish to achieve or have, thinking we want to modify or routines and way of life we want to try.
To help you see what more can you do better and modify in your way of life, this is the top ten New Year’s Solution you can utilize in the future New Year.
1. Manage Yourself
Do you often get following time? You have too many actions but too short period.
Sometimes our lack of your energy and effort results from our listlessness to manage it. We usually forget the variety of projects we acknowledge that we get found off protect when elements submitted up.
Start to be structured and begin it with you. It may contain developing a to do listing, having a work schedule but most of all, know how to focus on your actions and obligations based on their significance.
Learning to prepare your actions does not only help you fix the debris of your way of life and operate, but also help you set your main concerns on elements that matter most to you.
2. Be Fit and Healthy
The world is getting much deadly and impure that a lot of not treatable ailments, such as cancer, have been getting away a lot of existence. And as such, the emergency of being healthy and fit is higher.
A lot of studies have stated and shown that there are a lot of methods to remain fit and healthy. As easy as walking, running or simply do some extending training at least thirty (30) mins per day can help you convenience away ailments to remain fit and healthy. Not only lethal ailments will be reduced or removed, but also such as worry, tiredness and all other psychological and actual illness we experience in our day to day actions.
3. Master, Master and Learn
Did you know that actual discovering comes from outside the school? And that actual discovering is beyond the amount and master’s degree we earn understanding.
Real discovering comes from our day to day actions and goes through. As they say, we learn best through action.
Also, realize that discovering can come in different types and many sites, like sessions we study our own actions, for visiting training/seminars, getting innovative sessions on art or music, discovering a new game and a lot more.
4. Invest More Time Developing Relationships
Prestige, energy and success are probably essential in your way of life, but ask yourself, why do you operate tirelessly to achieve those? Who are your inspirations to do so?
Most of us will probably answer our family or community, the individuals we serve and be influenced of. Although this reason is clear, frequently we forget it as we get blinded by the glow of reputation, energy and success that we get too fast paced and neglect the root base of our drive.
Take a chance to slow down and spend time building interactions with others. Keep in thoughts that at the end of it all, it’s not what you have that they will remember; it’s what you have done.
5. Have More Faith
Why do some individuals get fortunate while others don’t?
And why are there so many hard-working men, but yet they have gotten fortunate with their career or life?
People usually neglect the energy of trust and knowing. It may contain your religious techniques of desires or just simply knowing that elements can be carried out. That you are capable of have what you want.
So if you want to get fortunate, operate and believe.
6. Make Self-Meditation a Habit
Have you ever joined a Yoga training class?
If you have joined one or never heard of it, it’s a breathing training for your persona. Yoga training is one way of deep breathing that helps you rest and convenience worry. This is done by relaxing and managing both your persona. And after each time, you will feel tranquil to deal with the debris of way of life.
Self-meditation does the same to your way of life. Making a New Year’s resolution is another form of self-meditation for it makes you look over your previous to provide you experience tomorrows with a much better YOU.
7. Are living Within Your Means
Are you one of those who helplessly delay for their regular income only to be able to touch it for a few mins before they would income it to a cashier to pay a long superb debt?
A lot of individuals in our technology now cannot do without bills and card. It becomes a very essential part of their way of life, that if without it, they could not endure.
And while we possess this gorgeous card, we usually reside beyond our indicates. We usually think that we can have more and more of the material elements that we want with less and less sources to do so. Then period, we are filled with bills.
If you want to make a modify in your regular problems, here are some ideas,
Live within your indicates. If you can not, then, discover a more method for reside more.
8. Avoid Bad Habits
What are the elements you wish you examine do if you do not begin ever?
Is it smoking? Drinking? Girls? Flirting? Disloyalty? Cheating?
You know it’s not doing benefits in your way of life, so what do you have to do?
STOP IT! Simple as that! How? Point out to yourself of the repercussions of carrying on to do so.
9. Be a Advantage to Others
Love individuals and individuals will really like you.
When I say really like, it does not mean light really like, but genuine and truthful care and really like for others.
Remember that way of life alone is not only single and sad, but also, useless.
10. Are living Life To The Fullest
Balanced way of life moves in four aspects: psychological, religious, psychological and actual.
Live in all areas of your way of life, for too much of one thing is always bad.
Don’t delay at the end of the vacation to reside your way of life, instead, remain in the vacation of a successful way of life. That is a way of life resided to its maximum today.
Please take note that this listing is not a procedure, but a pure guide that you can utilize or pay no attention to in your way of life. Our only purpose is to give you an idea of what you can look upon in your way of life that you can think of applying in the returning New Year.
HAPPY & BLESSED NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
40 Easy Ways to Make Your Life Enjoyable
1. Stay hydrated.
2. Eat meal like a full, meal like a knight in shining armor and meal like a beggar.
3. Eat more food that increase on flowers and vegetation, and eat less food that is created in vegetation.
4. Stay with the 3 E’s — Power, Excitement, and Consideration.
5. Create time for prayer and reflection
6. Play more activities.
7. Go through more guides than you did last year.
8. Sit alone for at least 10 moments each day.
9. Rest for 7 hours.
Personality:
10. Take a 10-30 moments move every day —- and while you move, look.
11. Don’t evaluate your lifestyle to others’. You have no idea what their trip is all about.
12. Don’t have unfavorable opinions or items you cannot control. Instead invest your current in the good provide time.
13. Don’t over do; keep your restrictions.
14. Don’t take yourself so seriously; no one else does.
15. Don’t invest your special energy on news.
16. Wish more while you are wake up.
17. Jealousy is a invest. You already have all you need.
18. Overlook difficulties of the last. Don’t help remind your associate with his/her problems of the last. That will damage your provide delight.
19. Normal life is too short to invest hating anyone. Don’t dislike others.
20. Create tranquility with your recent so it won’t indulge the provide.
21. No one is in fee of your delight except you.
22. Understand that lifestyle is a college and you are here to discover. Problems are simply part of the program that appear and cool like algebra training but the classes you discover will last a life.
23. Smile and have fun more.
24. You don’t have to win every debate. Accept differ.
Community:
25. Phone your household often.
26. Each day give something great to others.
27. Reduce everyone for everything.
28. See individuals over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to create at least three individuals look each day.
30. What other individuals think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are tired. Your acquaintances and household will. Keep in effect.
32. Do the right items.
33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, wonderful or content.
34. Forgiveness cures everything.
35. However great or bad a circumstance is, it will change.
36. No topic how you feel, get up, liven up and appear.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you wake up in existence in the day, never take it for naturally – accept lifestyle.
39. Your inner most is always satisfied. So, be satisfied.
Last but not the least:
40. Appreciate LIFE!
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Little Secret Makes A Big Difference
Today, I’ll let you on the little secret that will make a huge difference in the amount of success and happiness you have in your life.
It is very likely that you already know this secret (or at least heard of how powerful it can be), but it is likely that even if you know this secret, that are not applied. No matter what you believe, success and happiness are within reach. We hope that through this article, can inspire unlock the hidden potential so you can achieve happiness and success you want.
There are many things about life that do not understand or are not even able to understand, and yet are so ready and willing to make definitive facts about things that do not understand. We have a very limited knowledge of our universe, our planet, and even our own body and mind, but they are so quick to accept “scientific” facts and statements about these things than the truth.
These “facts” that we are so eager to accept the truth of constant change. It ‘became the norm, that new scientific studies and observations refuted the facts old (sometimes to the point where decades of faith in a fact or a system to shame).
Examples of this source:
Bloodletting was once found to be a cure for most diseases. Today, the bleeding is considered ineffective.
Margarine was considered much healthier than butter. Research suggests that there may be much healthier than margarine.
The eggs were considered bad because of high cholesterol levels. Now, it is said that eggs are not bad at all, and are very healthy for the body.
Alcohol in all its forms was said to be 100% healthy and should not be consumed. In a couple of years ago, a researcher said that red wine was really healthy for the heart but not other forms of alcohol. He added that all the alcohol in moderation has health benefits for them.
Chocolate and greasy foods is said to be one reason for acne. Now researchers say they do not contribute to acne in any way.
Homosexuality was classified as a disease.
Doctors thought the child was much better than formula milk for children. Now doctors say the opposite is said to be true.
Milk was once recommended for the coating of the stomach, and it would help to alleviate ulcers. Now, the idea of milk are discouraged and have proven to actually worsen ulcers.
The diet had no effect on the disease or illness. Now people have told us that the diet has a huge impact on the prevention and causes of diseases and disorders.
Little Secret: Part 1
The little secret that will make a big difference in the amount of success and happiness in your life consists of two parts. As you may already be able to guess the above paragraphs relate to the first part of the dirty little secret is:
Do not accept any definition of the truth.
Buddha has a relevant quote that applies here:
“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who said it, no matter if I said, if you do not agree with your own reason and your own common sense.”
-The Buddha
It is very difficult to be happy or successful if you put limits on your abilities and potential. Limiting beliefs are ideas or beliefs that you have come to accept the truth that keeps you from reaching your full potential. I will not go in depth about the limiting beliefs in this article.
“Men often become what they believe. If I can not do something, that makes me unable to do so. But when I think I can acquire the ability to do so, even if not at first.”
What I want out of Part 1 of little secret is that you should never blindly accept the facts of any person, statement, or an indication of the truth, if the advice of your parents, your boss Your doctor or even the president himself ( except for emergencies). Do your own research and preparation before accepting something as true.
The little secret: Part 2
The second part of the little secret refers to the thinking and attitude toward life.
You have the freedom to see life in any way you choose. Anyone can be a place of abundance or scarcity, opportunity or accident. Journey of life can be considered one of the adventures, adventure and excitement, or it can be seen as a painful tortuous path full of obstacles and failures.
“Everything we have is the result of what we thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”
- The Buddha
As Buddha said wisely, “as you think it will be.” The thoughts that you focus your energy on what they unconsciously strive to reclaim their lives. If you choose to focus their thoughts on the negative or limiting beliefs and that is exactly what will remain in your life.
The second part of the dirty little secret is to think positive and always look on the bright side of things. To attract good fortune and success, you need to know what you want in life (ie your main goal) and you must focus your thoughts on these objectives. Focus on what you want and what you love to do, not what you want or what you can not do.
Tip: You can do much more than you think you’re capable of. Do not settle for something that is below their standards. Here’s a nice quote to remind you:
“I bargained with Life penny, and life would not pay more, but I asked for the evening, when I left my little shop.
For Life is a just employer, He gives you what you ask, but when you have set the wages, why you wear to work.
I worked for a rental home, only to learn dismayed, that any wage I had asked of life, life would be willingly paid. “
- Source: Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich
In summary: the dirty little secret of happiness and success
Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who said it, no matter if I have said, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. Do not let anyone tell you what is possible and what is not possible.
All we are is the result of what we thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become. Therefore it is important to focus your thoughts on the positive side of life, to see the bright side and focus on what you want in your life.
Just use this little secret you will attract more happiness and success in your life. This secret will also allow you to become a lot more confident in all areas of your life. Try for a month and let us know in the comments if it makes a difference for you.
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7 Ways To Get A Massage And Find Peace
“Nothing is lost before it has taught us what we need to know.” Pema Chodron ~
One thing I brought most of the re-invention, which is anxiety. For anxiety, I do not mean to worry or concern. Anxiety is a different animal that seizes you and stops you in your tracks.
We tend to reject its forms are really soft and terrorized by their intense moments, such as panic attacks. It is hard to see when you struggle with the anxiety that may have an advantage, but it does.
Anxiety comes with a few hidden treasures inside amazing, and they can be yours if you know how to get to them. First, you need to stop fighting and listen to the fear of tracks.
GETTING THE MESSAGE
The best thing about anxiety is that is a message. Anxiety is not the real problem. Else’s voice lies in this appeal to you.
Most people who suffer from anxiety try to go after the symptoms rather than its cause and try to fight as if it were the only thing to treat.
This is not the way to go if you want to know what happened, why is there and how you can make long-term freedom from it.
STOP YOURE HURTING
The distress message is simple, it’s just three words: STOP! It hurts!
When you experience anxiety that asks you to stop and realize that you are wrong, and you know it, so the next step is to find one that will hurt. Its severity is related to the scope of what you have to deal with, so if you feel like you’re dying to find something great!
The methods vary, and you are stopping some of the common ones are: spinning thoughts, feelings separate, heavy breathing, and heart in his throat. The works so that you can finally pay attention, is tailor-made for you.
The highest message may appear to stop a panic attack and causes a sensation that you feel you are going to die. Dying is the ultimate definition of stopping within our physical experience, so we can feel that way.
The good news is that it is an illusion. Anxiety will not hurt you that way, but until you catch it, start listening, and heal the source of the messages, which will continue trying to turn left in front of you and no time to hear what you are trying said.
“Hey, I’m talking about! Does she know me again? Ah Ok body, it’s your turn. Make her feel that her heart will explode. HA! You have stopped working overtime has do not you? Gotcha … Now we need to talk … What? Now that you’re hiding in a movie? Oh no you did not! Panic Attacks! “
ENERGY CONSERVATION
Anxiety can feel cyclical, as it lasts, and it is easy to feel persecuted or imprisoned by it. You are always in control though. The body, a part of nature, always seeking a balance and rest. When anxiety becomes cyclical and seemingly beyond your control, it is still just a part of you.
It is maintained by you, for you, until it gets enough attention for healing to take place. Whatever you do, or continue to ignore (perhaps the things that led to its nascence) will continue until it is re-creating approach things differently.
This is an important result because it can help to move ourselves to experience the feeling of power. You can only continue until the tendency to delay the message below. Anxiety can make you feel uncomfortable forever. It motivates to heal, and then once you leave.
WHO/WHAT SENT THE MESSAGE
Posts anxiety may be a bad thing you have chosen to pursue. It can be a traumatic or painful left unresolved (in general have been attitude sucks-it-up, hard, trying to forget, etc..)
It could be someone or something you do not have to forgive, or a perceived lack of time to run that has hampered the growth of your time.
My anxiety disorder came to a great uncertainty, excessive need for validation, an ardent desire to be completed through the relationships and the inability to recognize who I was.
I ran around trying to please others and try to be what I wanted. A year after the day of a particularly painful break-in which I had come to believe less than a perfect person, I had my first panic attack.
It completely changed and continued to do for four years, because he tried to stop and heal.
It worked. Experience anxiety so strong that I could not leave my apartment has been able to make me turn the gaze away from the rest of the world, my inner world, I seriously had to focus. I could finally heal and grow.
That I was next door was a happy, competent person, who was more compassionate business-oriented heart and satisfy myself that the approval of others. Fear has been my greatest gift is life-changing, and I am eternally grateful.
RECEIVE THE MESSAGE
Spending time with anxiety to discover the source of the message and you have to cure can be achieved in several ways. You must find what works best for you, but here are a variety of approaches that seem to help everyone:
1. Welcome him.
Make friends and peace of anxiety immediately. Speak for yourself, and the anxiety of optimism: it is ok. I’m listening. I want to hear what you have to say. I know you’re just trying to get my attention and that more directly and listen quietly, the sooner you stop repeating yourself.
Battle of anxiety or is going to oppose it.
2. Write about it.
I know it is a commonplace of review as a solution to the problems of more staff, but the slowdown in the pace of writing and the full commitment of all their senses to help in the way of anxiety in your message origin.
Not always know where our anxiety, so we take the time to dig in and hit. In addition, we are literally people. Our thoughts are, literally. Using a linguistic point of anxiety mechanism the message becomes clearer and easier to work with.
3. Laugh.
Bring more laughter into your life. It will help you in life less seriously.
4. Love.
Expressing love for people, places and things we love. No longer a beacon of love.
5. To help others in their distress.
The more people you help with anxiety, the largest of a vocabulary that will be developed, and this will help give your inner dialogue when you feel anxiety.
6. A meditation.
Racing thoughts and anxiety can be very distracting. With a mind to run, it is difficult to hear the message of anxiety and follow-up to its source. Meditation helps a lot.
If you can learn to pay attention to your thoughts without attaching to them, see them as cars pass by while you stand on the edge of a busy highway, you’ll pick up the best What really matters right now .
7. Realize that enough.
Be responsible, no matter how “as / this and made it” for you. Never mind. Now what we have to work. Tomorrow is what we create.
Realize that you are your own solution. You have what you need to look clearly, to hear and heal. Anxiety is born in a message, speak through you, so that is in you to heal.
RECEIVE THE GIFTS
By learning about anxiety, spending time with her and finally hold in your hand, you can take the next step: You can relax your grip and drop. He will have served its purpose. You would have loved that part of yourself, and it will not need to get your attention with such a difficult message again.
You will be connected. This is the first gift.
Another gift is associated with the feeling, and understand that you have enough time can lead to a full inside. You can make an easy to remember the knowledge that you are ready for this, what’s the next exciting challenge or a painful event may be.
The third gift of anxiety is that you can recognize their own power rather than power over you and your life.
All I had to do was listen …
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How to Make 10 Natural Beauty Products
Homemade Beauty ProductsMake your own beauty products to keep harmful chemicals off of your skin. Homemade creams, soaps and other products can be just as luxurious and fragrant as their commercial counterparts but you can avoid artificial chemicals – and the headache of dealing with all that packaging waste.
Although beauty products don’t have to list their ingredients, they often contain pthalates, formaldehyde, parabens and other chemicals that have been shown to harm animals in lab tests, and which are being phased out in Europe in favor of less toxic alternatives. Prenatal exposure to pthalates, for example, has been linked to liver and kidney damage and effects on baby boys’ reproductive organs, and the chemical has been implicated in male obesity. The CDC found the potentially harmful sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone in 97% of Americans tested.
Plus, you don’t want any nasty stuff getting into our fragile waterways, do you? That’s what happens when cosmetics and personal care products are washed down the drain. Frogs and aquatic life are highly susceptible to damage from even minute contamination.
Why not get beautiful in less risky ways? Remember that many of these recipes can be put into reusable containers — which can also be decorated and given as unique, homemade gifts.
Makes 1 application
2 tablespoons real mayonnaise
1 teaspoon baby oil
> Combine both ingredients.
> Smooth onto face, neck, rough elbows and knees or anywhere else you feel might benefit from it.
> Leave for 20 minutes.
> Rinse off thoroughly with tepid water.
Honey-Avocado Invigorating and Revitalizing Hair Treatment
Makes 1 application
1 medium avocado — peeled and stoned
2 tablespoons honey
> Mash together the ingredients in a small bowl.
> Massage into hair.
> Leave for 20-30 minutes.
> Wash hair as usual.
Makes 1 application
Juice from 1/2 a lemon (strained)
1 egg white
> Beat together the egg white and lemon juice for 3 minutes.
> Apply directly to your face, avoiding the eyes.
> Leave on for 30 minutes.
> Rinse off with warm water.
Vegetable Oil Nail Strengthener
Makes 20-30 applications
2 tsp castor oil
2 tsp salt
1 tsp wheat germ oil
> Pour all ingredients into a sealable bottle.
> Before each use shake well.
> Rub a small amount of the mixture onto your nails.
> Leave on for 3-5 minutes.
> Wipe off with a cotton pad.
Honey-Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Makes 100 applications
2 tbls. olive oil
1/2 tsp. honey
3/4 tsp. beeswax — grated
1/2 tsp. pure cocoa butter
Flavored oil of your choice (like peppermint or vanilla)
1 vitamin E capsule
> In a small saucepan, heat oil, honey, wax and butter over a low heat until just melted.
> Remove from heat and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes.
> Stir in flavoring and contents of vitamin E capsule.
> Pour into containers of your choice.
1/2 cup baby oil
> Stir the ingredients together in a bowl and put into a screw top jar.
> Leave for 24 hours.
> Stir the mixture and apply to any areas of the body you wish to exfoliate.
> Massage into the skin for a few minutes then shower off.
> Pat your skin dry.
1/2 cup chopped avocado
1 egg white
2 tsp. powdered milk
- Combine all of the ingredients in a blender until they form a smooth paste.
- Apply the mask to your face and neck using circular upward movements.
- Leave the mask on for 30 minutes, or until dry.
- Rinse your face and neck with warm water and finish with a cold water rinse.
- This mask will keep up to 30 minutes in the refrigerator if you need to prepare it slightly in advance.
Brown Sugar Hand SoftenerMakes 1 treatment
1/4 cup course brown sugar
Baby oil to make into a paste
> Mix together.
> Using a hand washing motion apply the mixture to the hands.
> Continue the washing motion for a minute then rinse off with warm water and pat dry.
Peach and Egg White Firming Spa MaskMakes 1 application
1 ripe peach — peeled and stoned
1 egg white
> Whip peach and egg white together in a blender till smooth.
> Gently pat mixture over face.
> Leave on for 30 minutes.
> Rinse off with cool water.
End-of-Day Foot SpaGood for one home pedicure.
1/2 cup Epsom salts
Essential oils of your choice
> Fill either a foot bath or your bath tub to ankle height with warm water.
> Dissolve 1/2 cup Epsom salts in the warm water and add the essential oil of your choice (lavender, rosewood, patchouli and sandalwood are relaxing oils, while lemongrass and eucalyptus are uplifting)
> Soak for 10-15 minutes. Pat dry and moisturize.
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62 Rules to Build Your Self Confidence
Confidence is a tool you can use in their daily lives to do all sorts of interesting things, at least not at the second stop is conjectured, managing your fears and be able to do more things that really count for you.But few people realize that their self-confidence is like a muscle – it grows in response to the performance level required of it. Either you use it, or you lose. That’s why I gave you 63 ways to grow your confidence so you can become a giant.
- Learning is a good thing, sign up for this evening class and enjoy.
- Ridgemont, asking a partner or best friend, what you can do today.
- Go to the gym. Physiological effects will be felt much.
- Go to a networking event and focus on how you can be helpful to others rather than be afraid of your own stuff.
- Get crystal clear about the things that really matter to you. If they are not in your life, you must bring in.
- Write a list of things you tolerate and endure in your life, notice how you can remove, minimize or reduce each.
- Look at the great victory and success you have experienced give you credit for your role. In recognition of your achievements are not selfish, it’s healthy.
- The next time you’re at a social event, not just stick to people you know – go and have a conversation with someone you do not know and you never know what – or who – you will discover.
- The next time you are convinced to do something (to invite the parties, an ambitious project or anything else), for example, “What the hell” and go to do anyway.
- Do one thing every day that makes you smile (interior or exterior).
- Try to think that will take you to a place where you start over-thinking or thoughts. Now imagine that your best friend has gone through exactly the same thought and decided to hold back – tell them what you want?
- Ask that girl or guy you like his pants off (only if you have one, do not want to get in trouble).
- You must keep in mind the well-fed, so write a list of 20 things that keeps you feeling nourished and make sure you give them space in your life.
- Stop playing different roles and push you into boxes according to what you think people expect you to behave like.
- Learning to understand yourself every time you tell yourself that you may have, may or may not be enough to get what you want.
- Take yourself on automatic pilot – make deliberate decisions about what is really important to you.
- The next time you face a risk or challenge, to hear what you say and find a way that brings the internal dialogue can be improved. Ask yourself: “What would be easier to do this?”
- Fear of looking stupid? You and everyone else. It’s not biggie so do not let that stop you. Say it with me – “it does not matter.”
- Do not think for a second that you can not be sure. There are already many things you do with natural confidence, you just have to notice them and become familiar with how it feels. Look for things you do when the question of whether you are confident enough never arises.
- Listen to doubt, but is ready to take deliberate decisions when you hear about them. Sometimes the problems are there for you to know what you need to prepare, so you can use to your advantage as you move forward.
- Think of a time when he felt like a set of switches bank in your head deviated to the ON position and you were firing on all cylinders. What were you doing and what is the reason why he felt so great?
- You have a lot of outdated rules that determine what you do, do not, should or should not do. These rules limit their thinking and behavior limit. Break the rule book and notice how you are free to make good decisions.
- Do you get bored with you because you do not get the most out of something or take a step back into a chance? Do not beat, because that will only make you feel bad. Instead, be brutally honest and ask yourself what you learned from the situation and what they lost. Based on this win / lose balance, that is an option you can do differently next time?
- If you have already done everything in life you need not worry. Do not worry it means that you are not sure, it just means you’re going somewhere new.
- If anyone in your life that puts you down or make you feel weak, you must let them know you expect anything else from now on. You deserve better.
- Flirt. It is a harmless way of playing with the connection with people and have fun.
- Reveals some of the real you in a relationship can feel like it is in a rut.
- Recognize and accommodate all of your experiences – good and bad things. It is equally valid and to hide things away because you do not like them is just to create conflict.
- Always recognize that it is more than enough for any situation, you may find yourself, no matter how difficult things are.
- Do not get swept away the drama of what’s happening right now, to find the most useful way to engage in what’s happening in your life.
- Do not automatically pay for free time – this often means that you fall short.
- When you feel like stamping your foot and shout: “I deserve better than this!” Take a step back and say: “I can not be better than this.”
- Confidence sometimes means admitting you’re wrong – always be ready to take your hands and change your mind.
- Trust your instinct. They know what they’re talking about.
- Fear is a way to let you know that you are going to stretch yourself and confidence. It ‘a good thing, so use it for themselves forward rather than run away.
- Imagine that you are the successful visit, the secure version, attractive and dynamic in the future, a version of what they hope to be. What do they say?
- They do not feel like you have to do everything yourself – sometimes the safest way is to ask for help.
- Take a chance on something tomorrow. Anything big or small, just take a chance.
- You need to be with people that make you feel, in order to spend more time with people who support and encourage you and less with those who threaten you.
- Stop fighting against things you do not like in your life – to create an environment in harmony around you, flowing and lets you be you.
- No man is an island, and you must be a part of the world around you to feel safe. What can you participate in that are important to you?
- Forget the pros and cons – to do something bold face their challenges and fears.
- You will develop the skills necessary to overcome the things that interest you. What you can practice, which greatly improves your chances of winning?
- The body is a mirror of the mind, then move your body in a safe condition can have surprising results.
- Do not be discouraged or unmotivated when it comes to 90% with something that is working – through and you’ll drive the last 10% is where the magic happens.
- Keep comparing yourself to others? Stop, do not try to validate by comparison – which is just like you pink.
- Putting your head above the parapet at work and talk about something you think could be improved or if you have an idea you think is the legs.
- If anything it difficult to understand for a moment, stop trying to understand. Accept that as fully and completely.
- Shy with new people? Not a problem, there is nothing wrong with being shy does not mean you are not sure. Just do not think too much, you start to fight or think they are less, because you are shy – but think this is the worst.
- The environment directly affects the perception of self, so if you’re surrounded by clutter, documents and put the garbage in the morning set aside to clean up and organize your stuff.
- Do you write a list of amazing things you’d like to do in your life and make a fresh start by simply looking at one or both of the first things that hit you.
- Do not make your happiness or self-esteem depends on being in a relationship or it is approved by another. Find your intrinsic value first, and your relationship and trust will be immeasurably better.
- My strengths to overcome weaknesses. We all have weaknesses, but not only undermine your confidence if you let them.
- The longer you leave this great thing on your list to do more than that and it seems to drain more – is, and not yourself.
- What son of gold, themes, motives and passions have always been in your life? If these things are not present in your life now has to change its priorities.
- Your body image is important because if you have a bad relationship with your body, not having confidence in yourself. Get a seat, if necessary, just make sure that you get along with your body.
- Being confident is a continuous process. This is not a goal or a point you reach the end and then stop. Keep playing the best of your ability and your confidence will always be there to support you.
- Try a new path. The beaten track in your life can easily turn from the knowledge of apathy and disconnection. Wakes you up a new path.
- Do not say “yes” to take the job just because you do not want to rock the boat – You can politely refuse any request you may encounter and do not need to create and defend it.
- See you against people who seem confident – do not copy them, but to discover what they are doing in a different way, which is to convey trust and what you can learn from it.
- Make a plan to do something, then make a deliberate decision to move forward. Seeing the progress that has important self-reinforcing.
- When you feel to focus inward and become paralyzed by doubt or fear, to move outward to focus on what you can engage and interact with.
Yet you fight to fail or screw up? It may not be a barrel of laughs, but it will not help you get through. Much better to recognize that all, if it is or not, is how you practice a rich life.
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Best Ways to Lift Up Your Worry
We all worry at times, and there is probably no way to stop worrying forever. There are some specific ways to stop right now, however. The following tips on how to stop worrying come from experience, because I’ve always been a bit of a worrier, and I had to learn some good techniques for stopping this energy-sucking habit. Here are five of the best.
1. Take action now.
Any action towards a goal tends to diminish worry. Thinking too much about your goals or plans, especially if you dwell on the hurdles, will cause you worry and stress. Of course you should plan well, but when planning drifts towards worrying, it’s time to start doing something positive. Take action!
2. Make decisive decisions.
When you want to stop worrying too much about an unresolved issues, you need to make decisive decisions, and even bad decisions may be better than doing nothing. Often you will immediately resolve the stress when you, for example, finally decide to quit that job, buy that house, or make that phone call. Nothing crowds and clouds your mind with worry as much as decisions waiting to be made. Make them now, or at least start gathering the information you need to make them. If they prove to be bad decisions, just make new ones.
3. Use mental categories.
Too many things going on in your head? Put them on lists and you may feel better. It works well for many of us worriers. When you are dwelling too much on something, and you stop to schedule a time to work on it, or just put it on a list, it is easier to let go of it for now. Jot down that phone call you have to make on tomorrow’s list, and you’ll feel less worried now. You’re basically creating “mental categories.” In fact, just saying to yourself, “There’s nothing I can do about this until Monday,” can put a worry into a category of “nothing to worry about right now.”
4. Deal with problems directly and quickly.
To eliminate worry when there are real problems, try to confront them head-on, and resolve them quickly. I once had to sue someone over a business matter, and I was worrying about it for weeks. When I finally just filed the papers, got on the phone, and came to an agreement, my stress was gone. Actually, my worrying began to dissipated as soon as I started acting, BEFORE the resolution (See #1).
There is more mental pain and worry in anticipating problems than in the problems themselves. If you lost a thousand dollars in the stock market last year, you probably suffer less from that today than you would from wondering if you’ll make it on time to a concert you paid $50 for. The anticipation of problems is what causes the most worry. Just deal with them head on as soon as is possible, and resolve them to the extent possible.
5. Meditate to eliminate worry.
Meditating is a great way to relax and to stop worrying, but what if you don’t have the time for more involved meditative practices? Don’t worry. Just try this: close your eyes, let the tension out of your body and take several deep breaths through your nose. That’s it. Want even easier meditation? Try brain wave entrainment CDs that do all the work for you. Just pop on the headphones and they’ll relax you by slowing your brain waves.
Try the above techniques. Make habits out of whichever ones work best to stop your worries. They need to be habits because nothing works if you forget to use it. In fact, until they become habitual, you may want to carry a list of your favorite techniques for eliminating worry.
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The Secrets for a Better Life
The secret to good life is a life that’s lived to the fullest.
Each of us has our own way of life, “indifferences” as they call it. But the reality is that even how different we are and the way we live, there is still one universal truth, values and principles that is governing our world. These truths are both simple and general that if you try to learn and apply them in your life, a great change can happen. Such truth gives other people a chance to find their place in this world and to live their life to its fullness. While for others who does not, makes their life so dull, hard and miserable.
The question now is, how can you live life to the fullest?
Knowing the answer can make your life as happier as it should be.
Start knowing, learning and living the truths of the secrets to good life, that is a life lived to its fullness.
Live Today
Past can’t be brought back and the future will always be uncertain. Today is yours, so make the most of it.
Maintain Balance
Your life is affected by the four aspects that are mental (brain), emotional (heart), spiritual (faith) and physical (body). Learn to maintain balance of the four aspects, for as Spice girls have sung, “Too much of something is bad”.
Forgive and Forget
The only person that suffers when you do not forgive is YOU. The other person is probably caring less of what you feel. Be kind to yourself and forget about it.
Accept Change as Part of Life
The more you can adapt to change, the easier your life is because change can open bigger and better possibilities for you, if only you’d accept it.
Visit places you’ve never been
Seeing a new place let you discover and learn more of other things in your life. It helps you expand your perspective and horizon.
Read Books
The best way to live is through continuously learning. Try to be better than “normal” yourself. Keep expanding and growing.
Attend Classes
Just like the swimming lessons you’ve always wanted to take back in high school. Remember that you’d never be too old to learn and discover where you really can win and be happy.
Take Time to Make Memories and Keep Your Journals
We should not wait for memories to happen, we should make memories happen. Find time to create memories with others. Make a note of each moment you do not want to forget, both the good and bad. Read your journal once in a while to see how far you’ve gone along. Surely, it will make you SMILE.
Capture the Moments
The ability to retrieve a memory decreases exponentially unless boosted by artificial aids like photographs and videos. Start taking those pictures you’d like to look back in your old days.
Smile
Nothing beats a cheerful heart and mind. Be happy regardless. Make the world a better place to live in. Start sharing your sweet smile.
Join a Club
To learn more about yourself is by being more exposed in to new people and learning from them. It will help you and everyone else grow; we evolve at the rate of the tribe we are plugged into.
Learn to Give
The old saying would always be true, “The more you give, the more you receive”. Our value as human being resides on what we can give and not on our capacity of receiving. Start spreading goodness by giving.
Spend Time With The Young Ones.
There’s no better stress reliever than the joy and positive feeling given by the free spirit of a young one.
Open Your Ears to the Elders
Listening to the old ones makes you a year wiser. Remember, the best way to learn and avoid extreme failure is through the experiences of others.
Accept and Manage Failure
Do not be afraid to make mistake. Most successful people have gone thru multiple failures. A great treasure of wisdom is hidden on every failure.
Take Risk
Life is full of chances and you do not live if you do not take chances. As they say, the higher the risk the higher possibility of success.
Cry
Who said that boys and big girls don’t cry? You need to cry, it eases the burden plus it will keep you from having diseases that’s caused by emotional pains.
Respect Other’s Opinion
Who wins in an argument? Keep yourself from arguments. Nothing is solved with a heated talk. Learn to listen to what others may say without necessary believing and taking them as true for you.
Take a Break
Reward yourself for a days’ work. Take that break, you deserve it and you need it in re-energizing yourself to another day of work.
Work Smart, Not Hard
The most stressed people are those who do not know how to work smart. Do not take the entire task to yourself. Remember, you are not alone in this world. Learn to maximize and trust the abilities of others. It’s not a weakness to ask for help.
Be Yourself
Don’t try to act like someone else just to please everyone. You don’t have to, plus you can’t. Stand firm to who you are. Eventually, you’d discover who are worth keeping in your life from those who are not.
Start Caring
People don’t care how much you know, they want to know how much you care. Start caring and let the people know that you care. Remember, that relationship is more lasting than accomplishments and prestige.
Meditate
Take a time to be with yourself and be silent. Such can relax the fast-pace life you are in and helps you discover more of whom you are and who you can become.
Discover Your Definite Purpose
Life is a journey. As you go along your journey, set your maps. Discover the right you at the right place and time. To help you discover, ask yourself, “If there was no praise or criticism in the world, then who would you be?”
Once you know the answer, you are right there.
Live Life with the World
Do not live for yourself alone; remember that there are other people and creatures that surrounding this world. Even if unaware, every move and action you take creates an effect to others.
So learn to take responsibility of your actions. And start contributing your knowledge and experience for the benefit of the whole world. Life is not easy nor that tough neither. Having a good life and living our life to its fullness is merely a choice. So make that choice to live life to it’s fullest.
How? Is a long list! And unfathomable life is, the list is surely have not covered all the ways.
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100 + Rules for Simplified Your Life
For the first time in history, people are facing the problem of having too much. Instead of asking “Where will our next meal come from?” we’re asking, “How can we keep ourselves from getting fat and lazy?”
One response to this dilemma is a passionate group of people voluntarily choosing to live simpler lives. 4 months ago, I began my own journey towards minimalist freedom and my view of the world has changed forever.
From my personal experience and learning from other minimalist friends, I’ve compiled the 103 most important rules to begin living a simpler life focused on the stuff that really matters. I hope it helps you as much as it has me.
- If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it. Most real food is easy to pronounce – like peas, apples, nuts, berries, and beans. Avoid doozies like these- Monosodium glutamate, Butylated hydroxytoluene, and tert-Butylhydroquinone
- Be frugal and stay out of debt. Debt hangs over your head like a nasty storm cloud. It keeps you from complete autonomy and makes you into a modern-day slave.
- You’re a biped, walk everywhere. There’s no better way to enjoy the earth than by walking all over it.
- When in doubt, throw it out. If you haven’t used it in 6 months, you probably don’t need it.
- Check your email once a day, at most. Compulsive email checking is an epidemic. Quit cold turkey.
- Wear it twice (or thrice). Apparently, this rule doesn’t apply to underwear.
- Wash your dishes mindfully. Chores don’t have to be so bad. Put a smile on and enjoy the rhythms of the job.
- Appreciate art in many forms. Not just paintings and music. But teacher’s lessons, and blogs posts, and crisp, fall mornings.
- Treat everything as an end in itself. Do something because you enjoy it, or because it’s important to you.
- Turn of your cellphone. A ringing cell-phone is not conducive to intimate conversation or a dreamy first date. Be present.
- Sit still, enjoy it. We’re not used to stopping, even for a short time. Let go of everything else and just be.
- Take a few deep breaths. In through your nose, out through your mouth.Feel the oxygen rush through your capillaries.
- Use a distraction free text editor. The human brain is unmatched in its ability to be distracted. Stack the odds in your favor – use darkroom.
- Unless it’s urgent, cancel the meeting. Meetings are 95% a waste of time. Send a memo instead and ask for a brief response in writing.
- Bury yourself in a good novel. Stories bring meaning to the world we live in, and yet make it seem like one big dream.
- Be authentically yourself. You’re you for a reason. Don’t put on a mask, hide your emotions, or put on a show. Just be you.
- Speak in plain, soft words. Everyone is slowly raising their voice to be heard in the crowd. Soon, the whole world will be shouting.
- Wink at the cashier. They’re human too. And yet so often we swipe our plastic and walk straight out of their lives.
- Use one towel the entire week. If you’re doing a good job in there, that towel should stay clean for eternity, right? Less is more my friend.
- Quit multi-tasking. Sometimes it’s OK, but most of the time, it’s just keeping you from doing one thing really, really well.
- Keep a small inner circle of trusted friends. Social media makes us think we can be friends with everyone. You can’t, unless everyone gets a really small piece of you.
- Mow the law in the slowest gear. Weird: we like the sun, we like the smell of grass, and yet we mow the lawn like speed demons.
- Buy a reversible belt. 2 for the price of 1. Enough said.
- Skip the gym membership, play with your kids. I hear kids are expensive, why not tap into their boundless energy and put them to good use.
- Listen intently, ask questions. It’s a dying art, but listening is your passport to a wealth of wisdom, not to mention some pretty cool friends.
- Buy a quality pair of jeans and wear them out. You’ll get a sense of completion. Satisfying, in a strange zen-like way.
- Pay in cold, hard cash. Plastic cards make money seem unreal. Maybe it is? Maybe this is all a big game we’re playing with ourselves.
- Find a job you love. Time is a precious resource but your boss might not think so. Find a job you won’t dread on Monday mornings, or else, make one.
- Set fewer goals, let action follow passion. Goals cause you to envy a future you that doesn’t exist. Do what excites you, and the results will surely come.
- Disconnect from the internet and do something that you’ll probably fail at. We’re safe in our little digital worlds. You can be who you want to be. Every now and then you have to fail at something, just to experience that razor edge.
- Feel the breeze and taste the salty air. Life is a smorgasbord of sounds, smells, tastes, and sights. Eat your heart out, kid.
- Go for a run, try to get lost. Don’t set a destination, just go. Turn left, then right, then right again. Repeat until desired result has been achieved.
- Keep your pockets light. We’re bogged down with so much stuff. Don’t let the madness spill into your pockets.
- Don’t wish away your today’s for tomorrow’s. It doesn’t hit most people until it’s too late, but life is a blessed gift. Just enjoy it my friend.
- Avoid advertising like the plague. Like a bad horror flick, they’re in our heads. The future of the human race hinges on our resistance.
- Is anyone reading this? I like you, a lot.
- Omit the unnecessary. Pare down your commitments, possessions, words, vices, addictions, and distractions.
- Focus on the essential. Make room for health, faith, fun, giving, laughing, loving, reading, and chasing your dreams.
- Automate your income. So much of our time is wasted doing stuff just to make a buck. There are remedies available, inquire within.
- Throw your TV out the second-story window. Never look back.
- Take a break from thinking. There’s a steady stream of thoughts that run through our minds all day, every day. If you don’t control it, it will certainly control you.
- Empty yourself. Experience the lightness of letting go.
- Pray like you mean it, and then listen. We are more than flesh and bones. Faith gives meaning to the world around us.
- Give until it hurts, and then, just a little more. Your happiness is so intricately tied to the happiness of others, that it doesn’t make sense to live any other way.
- Declutter your freakin’ closet. Donate anything you haven’t worn in a year and give your closet some breathing room.
- And keep your desk clear, minus a picture frame. It’s hard to focus amidst piles of clutter and chaos. Keep flat surfaces clear except for a few accent pieces.
- Write concisely. Brevity is the key to making a point.
- No more than 5 words on a Power Point slide. Ever. Boring Power Pointsare the bane of my existence. Speak with stories and put pictures on your slide that stick in my brain.
- Keep your speeches pithy, humorous, and to the point. The key to being heard in this noisy world is to pack a powerful punch. Plus, people like to laugh.
- Respect other people’s time. In the modern world, time is quickly becoming our most precious resource.
- Do what you love and then get paid for it. If you had the choice, wouldn’t you. You do, now go.
- Health can’t be measured on a scale, don’t bother. I’d like to know what a scale can tell you that a 5k road race and a mirror couldn’t? You’re either healthy, or you’re not.
- Stop complaining, enjoy the scenery. Birds, mountains, corn fields, lakes, people – there’s no reason to be bored.
- Try yoga to calm your soul (and get a sexy six-pack). Yoga is for everyone. It’s a slow way to unwind from a day in the rat-race.
- Figure out why we’re here. Ask the difficult questions and go wherever they lead you.
- If you’re standing in line, make a friend. This should go without saying, but then again, we have a nasty habit of getting stuck in our own little worlds.
- Cut your possessions in half, and then half again. Boom! Welcome to the minimalist lifestyle. Now, go do something that matters.
- Make your own gifts, and don’t be afraid to mess up. Sometimes its the imperfections that add character. Guy’s note this: girls will think it’s cute anyway.
- To make money, add value to someone’s life. It’s that simple. #1 money making rule: I will pay you to make my life better or easier or more exciting. #2 money making rule: Be Indispensable
- Limit all emails to 5 sentences or less. Attention is a limited resource, treat it like gold.
- Linger at the dinner table. There’s something about sharing a meal together that makes you family. Make this time sacred.
- Become a great story teller. Stories speak to us, and make us think, and inspire us, and break our hearts.
- Change just one habit at a time. Never underestimate the power of small, incremental change over the long haul.
- Cut loose your extra baggage. We come into the world with nothing and leave with nothing. And yet, we insist on caring a bunch of stuff with us while we’re here.
- Travel lightly. Minimal luggage means maximum adventure.
- Avoid the touristy areas. Seek out the local people, eat their food, and sleep in their homes.
- Explore: people and places. We’re not static creatures, our design is based on change, and growth, and awakening. Find people who inspire you to dig deeper.
- Don’t eat anything that’s symmetrical. Nothing in nature is perfectly round or square – you can’t say the same thing about Oreo’s, Ritz Crackers, and Milky Ways.
- Check the library first. Libraries are the future of the planet. Not just for books, but for tools, tables, TVs, cars, houses, and a host of other things you can’t imagine, just yet.
- Walk barefoot in the grass. Now, run and play and skin your knees on something.
- Downsize your home – better yet – rent an apartment. It costs a lot of money to heat and maintain extra square footage. Simplify.
- Chew it 20 times before you swallow. And put your fork down between bites. This is how to make room for actual conversations in your life.
- Play, laugh, giggle, skip, roll, and be merry. In a word: childlike.
- Stop consuming, create something. Consuming is passive and leaves you emptier. Creating awakens you from the inside out.
- Sit by the fire and by mystified. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Any time you can engage all 5 senses – you’re doing something right.
- Let go of expectations. The only thing in the way of your happiness is your perception of how things should turn out.
- And free yourself from the expectations of others. You’re real friends won’t mind, the rest have a thing or two to learn.
- Don’t you dare forward that chain email. Oh, don’t you even dare.
- Live with less than 100 possessions. Just a number, but its become the holy grail of minimalist freedom.
- Be shamelessly unproductive. Chase someone with a hose, wrestle your friends, make a prank call. Make someone smile.
- Use lists, they’re easy and fun to read. We could all use a splash of fun in our day, right?
- Simplify your morning routine. Set the mood for your day: drink a glass of water, sit quietly and pray (or think), stretch and be on your way.
- Quit reading the newspaper. Bad things happen, stocks go up and down, politicians want your soul. There, I caught you up for the next 6 months.
- Avoid twitter when you’re tired and vulnerable. Twitter sucks you in and karate chops you across the back. It’s a real time waster, too.
- Buy quality, well-built products. Mother earth will thank you a thousand times over.
- Support your local community. Spend your money at mom and pop stores where they still care to know your name.
- Find joy in little things, like kittens and rain drops. Big picture people tend to be happy when things are going well. Small picture people have a billion reasons to be happy, everyday.
- Work smarter, not harder. Productivity isn’t everything. In fact, if you’re enjoying yourself, it doesn’t matter. But if you’re not – find a smarter way of working.
- Be a nomad for one year (or at least a month). We get so attached to physical things. What if we moved with a few people we love and the clothes on our back? What if we became nomads for good?
- Shop on Black Friday, avoid the other days. Awful congestion, but wicked good sales. I hate shopping, but really, this is the day to do it.
- Go with the flow, bro. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, something will change. Life is best enjoyed in the moment.
- Enjoy without owning. A change occurs when you call something yours. It loses a certain value and a connection with the larger world.
- Stop being spineless, learn to say no. It’s not being rude, you can’t be everything for everyone. Choose wisely.
- Limit non face-to-face communication. Humans have 5 senses for a reason, a good conversation engages all of them.
- Purge your inbox like it’s your job. When work piles up, even if it’s out of sight, you will carry that burden with you anywhere you go.
- Edit your life ruthlessly. Experiment with your approach, ask questions, and cut out the stuff that isn’t working.
- Spend time alone, without distractions. So few people really know themselves, it take away from their ability to know others.
- Drive under the speed limit, Speedy Gonzalez. Speed limit – it’s interesting to me that we’ve come to understand that number to be the minimum miles per hour we should be driving.
- Create a simple weekly dinner menu. Make it healthy and keep it simple. This will make grocery shopping 100x easier.
- Let go of fake needs. Years of exposure has us convinced that we need to buy something to meet a need. That’s not part of our design. Everything you need to be happy can be grown, introduced, or found.
- Leave white space in your day. There should be space between the events in your day to leave room for taking it all in.
- Have the audacity to be content. It takes courage to be content with who you are and where you’re at right now. Millions of advertisements will try to talk you out of it, stay strong my friend.
- Be faithful to one spouse. Love their guts out. In fact, go give them a hug right now. Not just today, do this every day for the rest of your life.
How to Flatten and Firm Your Belly
Shape Your Stomach!!!
Lost the belly fat? Ready to flatten and firm your belly?! Getting your stomach in shape will take work but will pay off fast. Take anywhere between 15-30 minutes each day to complete several of these exercises. Working out your abs can be so much fun because there are so many different exercises. Mix it up and make an abs workout enjoyable! Use these tips to flatten and firm your belly!!
Positive Attitude, Motivation, Determination, Time
Instructions
- 1
EXERCISE ONE. Basic Crunch. On your back, bend your knees with feet on the floor and place hands behind your head. Lifting with your chin and squeezing your abs, bring your shoulder blades off the ground as high as you can. Squeeze those abs for 20 reps. Repeat this set 3 times. Add intensity with weights, medicine ball, and/or workout ball. Crunch your abs and flatten and firm your belly!!
- 2
EXERCISE TWO. Pelvic Lift. On your back, bend your knees with feet on the floor and place hands beside your body. Lift your legs by squeezing your abs and work the lower part of the stomach. Lift your butt off the ground as high as you can. Squeeze those abs for 20 reps. Repeat this set 3 times. Add intensity with weights, medicine ball, and/or workout ball. Lift your abs and flatten and firm your belly!!
- 3
EXERCISE THREE. Leg Raise. On your back, straighten your legs out on the floor and place hands beside your body. Raise legs to the ceiling. Slowly, release the legs back down 2 inches off the ground for 20 reps. Keep you lower back pressed against the ground. Repeat this set 3 times. Add intensity with weights, medicine ball, and/or workout ball. Raise your abs and flatten and firm your belly!!- 4
EXERCISE FOUR. Leg Hold. On your back, straighten your legs out on the floor and place hands beside your body. Lift legs 2 inches off the ground and hold your legs and abs in this position for 20 seconds. Keep your lower back pressed against the ground. Repeat this set 3 times. Add intensity with weights, medicine ball, and/or workout ball. Hold your abs and flatten and firm your belly!!
- 5
EXERCISE FIVE. Leg Extend. On your back, straighten your legs out on the floor and place hands behind your head. Lifting with your chin and squeezing your abs, bring your shoulder blades off the ground as high as you can. Tighten those abs for 20 reps. Repeat this set 3 times. Add intensity with weights, medicine ball, and /or workout ball. Extend your abs and flatten and firm your belly!!
- 6
EXERCISE SIX. Tummy Tuck. On your elbows and hands, extend your legs back with toes on the floor. Straighten your body and tuck in your tummy. Do not stick your butt out. Keep your butt in line with your body. Hold your body and abs in this position for 20 seconds. Repeat this set 3 times. Add intensity with weights, medicine ball, and/or workout ball. Tuck your abs and flatten and firm your belly!!
Read more: How to Flatten and Firm Your Belly |
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20 Organic And Fat Burning Foods For Weight Loss
The secret to losing weight is to eat and drink until you are full and satisfied, choosing foods that burn more calories than you consume.
Here is the list of fat burning foods which will help you make the right choices to burn off more fat than you ingest by eating them.
No need to become a vegetarian to lose weight. Simply increase the intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, legumes, and nuts.
They will help your body burn up the excessive stored fat. But a single food alone can never help in losing weight.
Make some dietary changes in your daily diet intake and follow them regularly as it can significantly produce best weight loss results. Watch carefully for fat and calories while eating for reduction in body mass.
Take essential nutrients and vitamins as these are the vital components of all living cells in our body. The best way to begin weight loss is by making healthy substitutions to your normal diet.
These days there is so much information out there on the best ways to lose weight, which makes it hard to know what’s healthy or will work. It may help to print viable options in brochures so you can take the information with you to the grocery store and give it out to your friends. Spread the knowledge and let us all eat the fruits and vegetables of our labor.
Here is the list of fat burning foods, which require more number of calories to burn than they actually contain:
1. Apricot – Boosts your metabolic rate
This is the food which is low in calories and fat. This food increases your metabolic rate and keeps you in normal weight. Apricots provide vitamin A, vitamin C, carbohydrates, minerals, dietary fiber [High Fiber Foods], iron and calcium. Also, apricot helps in maintaining good health.
2. Apples – Low fat and low calorie fruit
Apples can be very beneficial for weight loss. Generally apples are low in fat and calories and contain minerals, vitamins, fiber and also low in sodium. All these can help for weight loss in different ways.
You can eat these fruits in greater quantities without consuming extra energy. Fiber in the apples fills your stomach quickly and also limits the quantity of food you have eaten.
Another great benefit of eating apples is; they have high water content and are a great source of detoxification.
3. Grapefruit – A super food for dieters
By eating half a grapefruit with each meal, you will lose nearly 3.6 pounds and those who consume grapefruit juice for three times in a day will lose 3.3 pounds in a week. This has the ability to recharge your metabolism and also supplies a nutritional boost.
It will not only help you in losing your weight, but also helps in fighting against cold symptoms, heart disease and certain types of cancer.
4. Beets – A fiber rich food fights against fat
These are the most attractive vegetables in a diet garden. Beets are helpful to flush water from your system to fight against water retention. Beets are the fat fighting vegetables in these modern days.
As beets are rich in fiber in half-soluble and half-insoluble mode, they play a great role in fighting against fat. Beets also help in protecting against heart attacks, certain cancers like colon cancer and birth defects.
5. Cabbage – A quick weight loss food
Eating cabbage soup can help you in losing weight quickly. Taking cabbage soup for seven days can cause you to lose weight. This vegetable is very low in calories and has plenty of nutrients.
6. Carrots – Rich in beta-carotene act as a fat substitute
Eating large amount of carrots can result in weight loss.
Beta carotene in the carrots can act as a fat substitute by supplying as a thickener in sauces, soups, breads, and casseroles.
So, there is no need to add any fat or cream for that stuff.
Carrots contain fiber, in which half-soluble fiber helps to lower the blood cholesterol levels.
7. Cauliflower – Low fat and low calorie food
This is a party platter vegetable, naturally low in calories and fat. So, don’t feel shy to eat.
8. Cucumber – A great diuretic
This diuretic product encourages the removal of fluids from your body. When you use this in right quantities, it will accelerate the metabolism, eject with the misused fluids and stimulates the removal of fat cells.
This diuretic has one great feature: it breaks the large fat deposits into tiny ones, which can be easily washed out from your body. Through this process, most of the fat cells were removed from your body and at the same time your body will lose the excess water.
9. Lettuce – The food rich in iron and magnesium
The minerals in lettuce will directly enter into your pique. The pique protects your body from illness.
The pique makes use of these minerals and composes them stronger and directly transforms them to the tissues and cells. Also, it increases the process of metabolism and wash out the fatty cells.
10. Onions – A great addition to your diet
Similar to garlic, onions also contain oils and minerals which will help in breaking the fats andincreasing your metabolism. Onions have greater power than garlic, so it is a great addition to your diet.
11. Pumpkin – The vegetable rich in fiber
Pumpkin is a greatest weight loss food for everyone. Pumpkin contains high quantities of fiber and contains only 40 calories.
12. Radishes – Cleans the mucus membrane of the body
Radishes contain improved levels of magnesium and iron. These are the minerals which help to melt the fat in the cells.
13. Sardines – Makes you feel full and stimulates your metabolism
Sardines are boon to everyone who wants to lose weight.
Sardines are full of proteins, which helps in stabilizing the blood sugar, makes you feel full and also stimulates your metabolism.
Also, they are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. These omega-3s are helpful to strengthen the cardiovascular system and also improves your mood.
14. Spinach – The food rich in fiber
Spinach provides you twice the amount of fiber when compared to other greens. Also, it is a good source of iron and full of minerals and vitamins. Use spinach when you are preparing the salads. This will be healthier and maintains your weight loss routine.
15. Zucchini – A low calorie food
Zucchini supplies only 15 calories for 100 grams. This is a versatile and negative calorie stuff that can be steamed, baked and fried or you can prepare it in any way that you want. So, add this food in your diet which helps in weight loss effectively.
16. Asparagus – A natural weight loss food
This is a natural weight loss food and is an ideal food for young women during their menstrual cycle. Folic acid in this food helps to prevent neural-tube birth defects.
This is the food which has fewer calories and high in volume. Eating large quantities of this food will satisfy your hunger without increasing your weight.
This food is also a good source of vitamin E. It contains an oxidant called glutathione which is considered to protect against cancer. This food is preferred for the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism.
17. Celery – A calcium rich food
This consists of high amounts of calcium in an about to use form. So, whenever you consume celery, the calcium is directly sent to work. This form of calcium will ignite your endocrine system. The hormones in your body will break up the accumulated fat build up.
High levels of iron and magnesium in celeries will also help in cleaning your system.
18. Chili pepper:
There are many benefits of chili pepper, ranged from relieving arthritis pain to lowering the levels of cholesterol in your body. They increase the metabolism thus resulting in weight loss.
19. Garlic – Helps reducing unhealthy fats and cholesterol
Garlic is also a natural diuretic which acts as a fat burning food. The mustard oils in garlic generate a cleansing action in your body.
During this process a large amount of peristalsis will be generated and it also helps in washing out the excess fat. So, eat garlic and acquire slim body. Garlic has anti-bacterial effect on your body.
20. Green tea – A great slimming solution
There are many health benefits with green tea. It consists of high quantities of anti-oxidants, improves your heart health, supports digestion, regulates your body temperature and blood sugar levels. [Green Tea Diet]
Your metabolic rate will be improved by drinking green tea and it also improves fat oxidation thus assisting you in losing weight.
Note that in order to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you consume. This can be done by eating fat burning foods and physical activity.
100 Snacks Under 100 Calories
Whilst I discourage extra snacking on carb high food and empty calories. I know this is easier said than done! Every now and then people give into temptation on diets and opt to have a cheeky snack, but finding the right ones that will satisfy your cravings without ruining your waistline can be tricky! However we’ve compiled a list of snacks under 100 calories that adheres to everyone tastes!
Remember to always double check the labels of your chosen foods for calories and to always keep to moderation.
20 olives
68 calories – If you like something to nibble with your treat glass of wine, why not steer away from the crisps and have some olives instead? At only 68 calories for 20 they’re a far healthier option. Olives are also good for the liver.
14 almonds
98 calories – A perfect snack for keeping at your desk when you need something to snack on, almonds is an ideal substitute for the savoury snacks people usually reach for and with heart protective monounsaturated fats (MUFA’s) and some vitamin b why wouldn’t you?
2 Jaffa Cakes
90 calories – Tasty treat that is calorifically low and with just one gram of fat per cake.
‘Be Good To Yourself’ Cool flavour tortilla snacks
93 calories – Having friends over and want low-calorie party food? These are perfect for sharing and won’t spoil your diet either.
Elizabeth Hurley’s Guilt Free Orange and Chocolate Oat Bars
100 calories – indulge in some chocolate orange (not a ‘chocolate orange’) without the hefty calories.
Two bags of Lightly Salted ‘Snack-a-jacks’ Popcorn
98 calories – Fancy a munch at the cinema? You can have two of these bags of ‘snack-a-jacks’ for under 100 calories (you may need to sneak them in however!)
100g of ‘Rod & Ben’s’ Pea & Mint soup
62 calories – Soups are satisfying, making them a great diet snack if you’re peckish.
Aero Bubbleball
99 calories – These ice-cream treats are based on screwball and with much less calories than most ice-cream snacks!
An apple
100 calories – “An apple a day can keep the doctor away.” Apples are rich in soluble fibre which helps protect against environmental pollutants and eliminates cholesterol. Go for one of the sweeter variety and you can skip a less healthy sugary snack.
1 ‘Skinny Cow’ Ice Cream
100 calories – You can still enjoy a frozen treat and keep your ‘beach body’ thanks to these low-fat iced deserts, and they come in a variety of tasty flavours, like berry and chocolate.
Miso soup
57 calories – You can buy miso soup in powder sachets so they make a quick and easy mid-afternoon snack for the office.
One ‘party size’ sausage roll
61 calories – pastry is no friend to a dieter, but luckily just one bite sized sausage roll won’t eat much into your calorie allowance.
Mini vegetable samosa
70 calories – Will count towards your 5 a day and the carbs in the pastry will help lift you from the 3 o’clock slump.
Quavers crisps
87 calories – a cheesy snack at a fraction of the calories of a chunk of cheddar.
10 salted peanuts
74 calories – Nuts are high in calories, but as a ‘Low GI’ food they release their energy slowly, so a small amount will keep hunger pangs at bay for a long time.
Three celery sticks stuffed with cottage cheese
75 calories – Celery may seem like boring diet food, but filled with soft cottage cheese it makes a great savoury treat.
Five ‘Werthers Originals’
100 calories – How long does it take to suck your way through five boiled sweets? It’ll be dinner time before you know it!
‘Be Good To Yourself’ Sweet Chili Cassava Snacks
76 calories – If you love crisps and can not think of anything better than a bag to snack on, opt for a low-calorie choice and avoid temptation.
Three chicken satay sticks with smooth peanut butter
98 calories – Yum.
Two stuffed vine leaves
100 calories – an alternative party snack.
Five squares of ‘Green and Blacks’ Butterscotch chocolate
85 calories – you can diet and eat chocolate (see our article on dieting and chocolate) Just make sure it’s high in cocoa and don’t graze too much.
Two lightly buttered oatcakes
100 calories – The energy given to us from oats gets used very slowly, so this should keep you going until dinner time.
‘Weight Watchers’ Frozen Chocolate Eclair
76 calories – Chocolate, pastry and cream at just 76 calories? It’s true!
Three potato wedges with ketchup
100 calories – It’s almost as good as being allowed chips. Just make sure you don’t put more than three in the oven and don’t overdo the ketchup…
30 grapes
100 calories – Last’s all morning and counts as one of your 5 a day. Grapes help in the treatment of anaemia, fatigue, arthiritis, gout, rheumatism and especially for recovery from illness.
Fun-size Milky Way
76 calories – “The red car and the blue car had a race… All red used to do was stuff it’s face; it ate everything it see’s from trucks to prickly tree’s… but good old blue he took the milky way!”
One melon
88 calories – Melons are the ultimate diet snack! They have such a low calorific value as they are made up mostly of water; go ahead and eat a whole one if you like!
Six dried apricots
100 calories – Convenient snack to have in your handbag, plus they’re full of fibre too.
Tomato soup
74 calories – a low calorie soup can be a filling snack and full of goodness.
Prawn cocktail Skips
89 calories – A light snack to calm your savoury craving.
Sugar-free jelly with two scoops Wall’s Vanilla Light Ice Cream
100 calories – re-visit your youth with this classic kids’ party pudding. Good for sore-throats too!
25 cherries
100 calories – Full of vitamins and low fat, cherries also take a while to eat as you have to avoid the stones, so your morning snack lasts.
‘Special K’ Chocolate Chip Cereal Bar
84 calories – Fewer calories than the standard chocolate bar; a great sweet fix and craving killer.
125ml red or dry white wine
85 calories – this one’s probably best saved for after work however!
2 crackers lightly spread with smooth peanut butter
93 calories – nuts release energy slowly (thanks to their low glycaemic index), plus crackers always take ages to chew, just don’t try to eat them in under a minute.
1 Birds Eye Potato Waffle
94 calories – a treat the whole family can enjoy (although probably best to multiply the quantity by the number of family members).
2 Tuna nigri sushi
98 calories – A very healthy snack for sushi fans!
Stewed apple with 1tbsp fromage frais
83 calories – Make in batches and keep in the freezer. It makes a healthy dessert for that kids will like!
Portobello mushroom stuffed with roast veg and feta cheese
100 calories – Packed with healthy veg and tasty cheese.
3 giant sea salt pretzels
93 calories – Filling treat to pick you up from your mid-afternoon slump.
2 satsumas
42 calories – low-calorie snack packed with vitamin C and awkward to eat which means your snack lasts longer!
Mini Babybel with two Nairn’s Mini Oatcakes
98 calories – sometimes it’s hard to resist cheese when you’re dieting, but you don’t need to as long as you stick with the ‘light’ option.
2 Poppadums with salsa
94 calories – spice up a poppadom with hot salsa!
Meringue nest with cream and strawberries
71 calories – This snack will certainly kill that sugar craving stone dead!
2 Grissini breadsticks with houmous
97 calories – Dipping snacks keep your hands busy!
Eight cashew nuts
100 calories – eaten in sensible quantities, nuts can be a dieter’s best friend, as they keep you fuller for longer.
‘Tunnocks’s’ Chocolate Teacake
91 calories – A chocolate marshmallow biscuit treat. What more can you ask for?
20 Chocolate coated raisins
80 calories – You can pick at this snack all afternoon, and not only is it chocolate but it contributes to your 5 a day. Bonus!
Four marshmallows
90 calories – Toasted until gooey or popped on top of your coffee, marshmallows are a fantastic low-fat sweet.
Carrot batons with extra-light mayo dip
65 calories – low-fat and nutritious.
Small bag of Twiglets
97 calories – Filling and full of flavour, perhaps not if you don’t like Marmite!
Pink wafer biscuit
72 calories – the perfect partner to your cup of tea or coffee.
‘Go Ahead!’ Strawberry Yoghurt Break Bar
72 calories – Fruity sweet fix without the guilt.
Flute of champagne
90 calories – This may not be in your daily, or even weekly budget, but every now and then it’s nice to treat yourself to a glass of bubbly.
Double vodka and slimline tonic
100 calories – Never forget the calories in drinks (You can read our article about alcohol and dieting here). Vodka and slimline tonic is however relatively low, though, so you can enjoy one occasionally.
One slice Warburtons bread toasted and soft cheese
100 calories – Toast with a delicious cheesy topping doesn’t have to be calorific. If you use healthy bread and spread your soft cheese thinly.
Thin slice Soreen malt loaf
86 calories – Sticky and sweet.
Mini pitta with 1tsp tzatziki
97 calories – A savoury delight, cut into pieces to help it last.
One mini Toblerone
21 calories – I bet this one is a realy shocker! Yes, bite sized chocolate with crunchy nougat chunks can be a mere 21 calories each believe it or not. (note MINI toblerone).
A crumpet
100 calories – We usually advise staying away from baked goods, however you can toast yourself a crumpet (avoiding butter) and dust with a tiny amount of grated low-fat cheese for a filling snack.
A pear
100 calories – Next time you fancy a snack, why not reach for a refreshing pear? One of your 5-a-day and less than 100 calories too.
A small baked potato
100 calories – Jacket potatoes are filling and very low in calories if you choose the right toppings. Try with two teaspoons of fat-free sour cream and/or half cup of salsa for less than 100 calories.
A ‘Slim-Fast’ Heavenly Chocolate Delight bar
95 calories – A tasty chocolate bar without the guilt. They also come in Chocolate Nutty Nougat and Caramel Treat flavours, too.
150g of Fat Free Vanilla Onken Yogurt
74 calories – Pop one of these yogurts in the fridge and you’ll always have a tasty snack when you’re feeling any hunger pangs.
A ‘School’ Bar
67 calories – These bars are a convenient snack for an energy boost. They don’t melt either!
‘Weight Watchers’ Luxury Layer Chocolate Brownie Pot
90 calories – If you feel like a treat after dinner but don’t want to ruin your diet; one of these iced desserts is perfect (and it’s much less fattening than ice cream).
A medium corn on the cob with seasoning
100 calories – It’s good to know that you can have a corn on the cob with a little salt and pepper for less than 100 calories!
2tsp hummus with a carrot
100 calories – Enjoy hummus with some crunchy carrot at any time for just 100 calories.
Four slices of mango
90 calories – You can enjoy four slices of juicy mango. They’re also sweet so great as a treat if you’d usually reach for something with more calories!
A cup of blueberries
83 calories – Blueberries (as well as being a strong antioxidant) are tasty, refreshing and a great way of getting one of your ‘five a day’. Also considered a ‘superfood’ for it’s ability to slow the aging process and protect against heart and circulatory disease and many forms of cancer.
A ‘Weight Watchers’ Mini Chocolate Stick
95 calories – There’s nothing better (and usually horrifically calorific!) than a tasty ice cream in the summer months, but if you don’t want to ruin your diet why not try one of these?
70g ‘TOTAL’ 2% yogurt with 80g strawberries
69 calories – Enjoy them with some creamy yogurt for only 69 calories. Strawberries also have the amazing ability to increase the body’s elimination of uric acid (a substance which irritates inflamed joints).
A bag of Fruit Flakes
66 calories – ‘Fruit Flakes’ would be more than three times heavier if they were non-dried fruit, which just shows how much fruit they pack in! Great for a nutritional boost.
A Brooklea Fromage Frais
87 calories – These fromage frais are handy for your lunchbox when you fancy a treat.
Opies cocktail gherkins 30 calories per 227g jar (seriously!)
30 calories – At an amazing 30 calories per jar these gherkins are a good substitute for any snack (and filling I imagine).
A ‘Monster Puffs’ cereal bar
83 calories – Based on the cereal ‘Sugar Puffs’, these bars taste delicious and are a great morning snack.
A bag of Slim Fast Cheddar Flavour Bites
95 calories – Cheesy snacks are notorious for being high in calories, but these cheddar-flavoured bites are only 95 calories a bag.
One Strawberry ‘Weight Watchers’ Mini Swirl Pot
92 calories – If you fancy a tasty snack in the evening, why not reach for one of these? They’re under 100 calories per pot and less calorific than a bowl of ice cream.
One Starbucks Tall Cappuccino with skimmed milk
76 calories – Coffees can be surprisingly high in calories, but if you’re dependant on your caffeine fix then why not opt for Starbucks ‘skinny cappuccino’? You can finally enjoy your hot drink without too much guilt!
10 Pringles
100 calories – At a party you can tuck into 10 Pringles without the guilt. However don’t be pulled into the addictive ‘once you pop you can’t stop’ slogan (pretty sure it’s not true).
A ‘Dole’ Pineapple Pot
62 calories – Pineapple is a great sweet and these pots are handy any time. Being both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial; Sore-throats, digestive problems, bruising and blood clots all respond to Pineapple’s natural ingredients!
2 Cadbury’s Roses
100 calories – There’s no need to be scared of the box of Roses, you can have two of your favourites for under 100 calories, just make sure it is just ‘two’.
A ‘Slim Fast’ Sour Cream and Chive Flavoured Pretzels snack bag
95 calories – Pretzels are a great substitute for fatty crisps and will still give you that savoury kick.
2 kiwis
58 calories – Kiwi fruit’s not only contain as much vitamin C as an orange, it’s a great fruit to take to work or have at home and make a nice change from the more common fruit. Also an aid to digestion and skin problems.
A glass of orange juice
100 calories – Orange juice is the best way of getting your vitamin C and they are also low in calories.
A ‘Müller’ Light yoghurt
96 calories – With flavours like cherry, blueberry and raspberry what’s not to love?
One bag of Ryvita Salt and Vinegar Mini Bites
100 calories – If you fancy a packet of crisps with your lunch you can avoid the guilt with these bites.
16 strawberries
58 calories – Strawberries are one of Britain’s favourite summer fruits and they’re low in calories too. You can dig into 16 for a mere 58 calories! Strawberries also have the amazing ability to increase the body’s elimination of uric acid (a substance which irritates inflamed joints).
Half a pint of lager and seven peanuts
99 calories – There’s no need to miss out on that Friday drink and peanuts or substantially increasing your beer belly when you visit the pub. Half a pint and a few peanuts shouldn’t hurt your diet.
A ‘Slim-Fast’ Chocolate Nutty Nougat bar
95 calories – Keep one of these in your desk won’t be tempted to reach for a calorific chocolate bar next time you have the ‘choco cravings’.
A Frozen banana
95 calories – frozen bananas: They taste great! Simply push a lolly stick into a banana then just freeze it, and you have a cheap, healthy and tasty iced snack for around 95 calories. Take that ice-cream!
1 Cadbury’s Highlights Mousse
60 calories – Satisfy those chocolate cravings with a chocolate mousse, and at only 60 calories you can go to sleep content.
Two medium peaches
76 calories – Lowers cholesterol and high blood pressure, regenerates skin tissue and containing many essential vitamins, peaches are great for you and yummy too.
1 McVitie’s chocolate digestive
83 calories – There’s nothing like a chocolate biscuit with your afternoon cup of tea, and you can have a chocolate digestive for only 83 calories.
1 bag of ‘Walkers’ Salt and Vinegar French Fries
82 calories – If you fancy some crisps, snack on a bag of these and you can enjoy your crisps and avoid any guilt.
1 slice of Marmite on brown toast
100 calories – If you love Marmite and fancy something quick and filling, a piece of toast and marmite is still only 100 calories. Marmite (love it or hate it) is also a fantastic food for vegetarians as it contains vitamin B which is mainly found in meat, eggs and fish.
1 ‘Fruit and Fibre’ bar
95 calories – Under 100 calories and convenient for on the go, pop one in your pocket for when you’re out and about.
A hard-boiled egg
78 calories – Not only are they high in protein and amino acids, but hard-boiled eggs are a filling snack. Second to none for that protein boost. Also a wonderful source of zinc and vitamins A, B, D and E!
25 ‘Jelly Belly’ jelly beans
100 calories – Have a sweet tooth? Why not dig into some jelly beans next time you fancy a snack? You can have 25 of these and still not go over 100 calories.
10 Cosmetic Uses for Everyday Foods
Getting egg on your face can be a good thing
The folds in a chef’s hat are supposed to symbolize the number of ways that chef knows how to prepare an egg, but we’re sure there’s at least one missing: as a facial mask. Many common foods can be used as cosmetics with surprisingly good results. So no matter your motivation (you want to save a few dollars, up your green quotient, or just find a novel way to pass the time), here are 10 cosmetic uses for food that are just as good, if not better, than their store-bought counterparts. (A word to the wise: If you have sensitive skin or processed hair, try these remedies on a small patch of skin or hair first.)
1. Egg White Mask. You can either save your leftover egg whites for an omelet
or angel food cake, or use them for your next facial. Just one white, beaten until smooth, is enough to cover your face. As with other masks, let it dry completely, then rinse off. It will leave you feeling refreshed, and your skin will be noticeably more taut.
2. Oatmeal Face Wash. Oatmeal has calming properties that soothe the skin
and help reduce redness. It can be used in a variety of ways, from a body wash to a mask, but the most basic is this simple face wash: Mix together equal parts warm honey and lemon juice, then stir in three parts instant oatmeal until it turns into a paste. Apply to your face, then wash off with warm water.
3. Vinegar Hair Cleaner. Swap your conditioner for vinegar twice a month
and you’ll get rid of any nasty buildup, as well as improve your hair’s silkiness and shine. Seriously. Don’t use dark or expensive vinegars; stick to cider or white wine vinegar for less strain on the wallet and better results. But don’t do this more than a few times a month or you’ll risk drying out your hair.
4. Honey and Brown Sugar Scrub. Fill a jar about two-thirds full with honey, add a scoop of brown sugar and one halved vanilla bean, and mix. Keep this in the shower and use it as a body scrub that will leave you smelling nice and feeling smooth.
5. Lemon Juice Lightener. Beach-goers have been doing this for years to lighten their locks. Just combine the juice of half a lemon with a handful of leave-in conditioner (which is less goopy than regular conditioner), spread on your hair, and comb through, then wash out. (Note: Highlighted or color-treated hair should be spared this homemade remedy, which could make your hair look brassy.) Many people also apply lemon juice directly to age spots to bleach them out, though this should be avoided on sensitive skin because lemon juice is highly acidic.
6. Coffee: Scrub and Shine-Maker. Your leftover coffee grounds can clog your drain or, if you’re feeling adventurous, be used as an invigorating scrub. For more details, check out this CHOW Tip. Needless to say, avoid doing this if you have sensitive skin. Leftover brewed coffee can also be mixed with some coffee grounds and conditioner to help increase shine in dark hair.
7. Tea Bag Eye Rejuvenator. The quintessential home cosmetic remedy is using cucumber slices on the eyes to reduce puffiness. While that certainly works, brewed black tea bags are even more effective. Place them on your eyes (which should be closed, of course) and let the tannins work their magic—about five minutes should do the trick.
8. Baking Soda Teeth Cleaner. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with a quarter teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide for one of the most basic forms of tooth care that exists. It’ll clean your teeth (some would argue better than store-bought toothpaste), but you’ll be missing out on the minty freshness. Of course, you could just go totally au naturel and gnaw a bit of spearmint for that.
9. Oil Moisturizer. Take a page from many a Mediterranean grandmother: Olive oil works fabulously as a lotion. Use too much and you’ll smell like pasta, but in small doses it works wonders as a daily lotion or massage oil. If olive oil isn’t your thing, sesame oil (regular not toasted), peanut oil, almond oil, and argan oil work too.
10. Cornstarch Bath Powder. Superabsorbent and extremely fine, cornstarch is the kitchen equivalent of baby powder and can be used in the same way. Combine it with a few leaves of a nice-smelling dried herb (rosemary, lavender, or sage, for instance) and pulse it in the food processor until evenly mixed. Sift out any large stray leaf bits, transfer to a container with a shake top (like an old baby powder bottle), and use to freshen up anything from your body to your sneakers.
10 Things Your Teenager Won’t Tell You
Wonder what’s bugging your teen? It’s hard to be certain when all your son does is grunt and your daughter won’t stop rolling her eyes. So rather than pressing our own kids to talk—not going to happen!—we asked teenagers from around the country what messages they wish they could share with their moms and dads. Sure, every child is different, but it may do you and your teen some good if you took these truthful kids’ concerns to heart.
1. She needs privacy.
“I hate that my parents don’t give me any personal space,” says Eleanor, 14. “And I hate that they don’t think I need it.” Even if your children share a room, give each child an area that’s off-limits to everyone else in the family (including you), such as a desk or a spare closet. To show that you respect your teen’s privacy, don’t rummage through her personal space unless you have a concrete reason to believe that she’s lying to you or hiding something serious. And remember: “All kids today are doing drugs” isn’t a concrete reason.
2. Sometimes he just needs you to listen.
“I want to tell my mom and dad everything,” says Keegan, 13, “but I don’t want to listen to them nag.” Understand that sometimes your kids just want a sounding board—they’re not looking for you to solve all their problems. When your son complains that his science teacher is being unfair or his soccer coach has been extra-hard on him, encourage him to talk by asking open-ended questions. (“Well, how does that make you feel?”) Don’t jump in with advice or threaten to intervene.
3. She may be dating—even if you’ve explicitly said she can’t.
“I didn’t tell my parents about a guy I dated for a year, because they didn’t allow me to have boyfriends,” says Marla, 15. “They knew we hung out, but I’d say, ‘Oh, we’re just friends.’” Try to be relaxed when it comes to dating—even if it’s killing you. Instead of forcing your daughter to sneak around, let her start with group dates, where at least four other kids are with her and her date at all times.
4. He may not be getting great grades on every assignment.
“I don’t tell my parents when I get a bad grade because I don’t want to listen to them tell me how I’ve let them down,” says Sam, 16, who says he occasionally fails a quiz but usually makes up for it with better exam scores. “There are nights I just don’t feel like studying!” Sometimes one bad grade is just that: one bad grade. If your son feels like he can vent to you about bombing a quiz or a book report, you won’t have to wait until the end of a semester to find out he’s struggling in school.
5. She doesn’t want to talk to you about sex.
“My mom knows I’ve kissed a boy,” says Sonia, 15, “but I don’t want to tell her anything else. It’s my life, not hers.” The good news is, in a 2005 government survey, less than half of high school students (47 percent) said they’d had sex. Still, it’s safest to assume your teen is in that 47 percent and educate her about birth control or preventing STDs. Don’t press her for personal details, but do offer advice; use third-person examples if it helps.
6. He hates when you don’t hold his siblings accountable.
“I hate that my parents don’t care how my youngest brother acts,” says Henry, 13. “When he swears or picks a fight with me or my older brother, they say, ‘He’s 7. He doesn’t know any better.’ But when I was his age I would have been in big trouble for swearing.” While it’s natural to become more lax as you have more children, it’s important to consider each unique situation, not just your children’s ages. Remember, all of your kids will respect you more if they think you’re a fair and reasonable parent.
7. She wishes you’d cut her some slack.
“It makes me sad when my mom screams at me when I’m already down,” says Erin, 17. Even if your daughter seems to screw up every time you turn around, it’s important that she doesn’t feel like you’re constantly coming down on her. When you’re upset, take some deep breaths; a few minutes might give you perspective (is it really worth it to lose your cool over dirty laundry?) and a chance to evaluate your daughter’s mood. Perhaps she’s ignored the laundry because she’s stressed about school or antsy about a boy who hasn’t called her back.
8. He lies to stay out of trouble.
“Sometimes I don’t come home because I’m too drunk to drive,” says Aaron, 19. “If I told my parents that, they’d flip out, so I lie.” While it would be irresponsible to give underage drinking the green light, you don’t want your child to be in an unsafe situation because he’s rushing to be home on time. If your son calls just before curfew and says he needs a ride, save your questions (and lectures) for the morning.
9. She gets frustrated when you use her age to your advantage.
“I can’t stand it when my parents say, ‘You’re 17. Act like a grownup,’ one day, and then turn around and say, ‘You’re not old enough to do that. You’re only 17,’ the next,” says Izzy. “Which is it? Make up your mind!” Since “age-appropriate” is subjective, try to give your child hard-and-fast rules that aren’t dependent on a number. (“Every member of this family attends church on Sunday,” or “Visiting friends at college isn’t allowed until you’re in college yourself.”)
10. He wishes you would trust him.
“My parents don’t trust that I don’t do drugs,” says Steven, 15. “And I really hate that they believe what other people tell them instead of what I tell them.” Constantly accusing your kids of this or that—especially if your accusations are unfounded—breeds mistrust. Eventually they’ll do something dishonest just because they’re sick of being wrongly accused. Trust your kids until they give you a real reason not to.
Related articles
- Parenting advice by teens, Radical Parenting. Ask yours to be “Teacher for the Day.” (howtobeawalkingmomtra.wordpress.com)
- Busting the myth of the teenaged monster (jamespatrick1.wordpress.com)
- Tips for Talking With Your Daughter (teens.webmd.com)
- Helping Your Teen to Stay Healthy (brighthub.com)
12 Critical Things You Should Never Tolerate
There is so much in life that we just tolerate. Some of it we have to deal with (taxes, bad weather, traffic). But there’s a good portion of stuff that we tolerate even when we don’t have to. We step around things, overlook irritations, and mindlessly accept energy drains. Perhaps we’ve become so immune to these tolerations that we don’t recognize the negative impact they have on us.
Sometimes just recognizing the things we are tolerating in life gives us a renewed sense of hope and energy. If you don’t know what’s pulling you down, it feels impossible to make your life better. Even small changes and shifts with these life tolerations can result in dramatic improvement in your outlook and mood.
However, when you address some of your bigger tolerations, you can completely change the course of your life and open doors to a world of happiness and inner peace that you didn’t know existed.
Think about the poorest of the poor, living in squalor and despair without the hope of a better future. When they are lucky enough to see the connection between education and life success, they have found a portal to escape poverty and misery. It’s a huge shift.
In the same way, we must search for these portals that will allow us to move to the next level of powerful living. Our tolerations are the brambles and vines growing over the portal doorway. We must clear them away to be able to open the door and walk through.
Do you want to walk through the portal to a happier life? If so, here are 12 situations that you should never tolerate if you want to live joyfully. See if you recognize yourself in any of these tolerations. If so, now is the time to clear them away.
1. Unhappiness at work.
You spend nearly half of your life at your job. If you are unhappy, do you really want to give away that much of your life? Think of the impact it has on your emotional well-being, your health, and your relationships. Think of the opportunities missed for doing something that you love, that is fulfilling. Don’t settle for living this way forever. Find a job that you love. Get more education if necessary. At the least, make changes within your current job to lessen your unhappiness.
2. A Long Commute.
A long commute to work by car or public transportation is stressful and empty. Hours in a vehicle adds up to days, months, years wasted in traveling when you could be doing and living. Find a job closer to home, or move closer to your job. Whatever your reason is for this commute, is it really worth the lost time?
3. An Unhealthy Lifestyle.
Are you overweight? Do you smoke? Are you sedentary? Do you eat junk? Do you abuse alcohol or other substances? An unhealthy lifestyle leads to an unhappy life. If you feel bad and look bad, you can’t enjoy life. This is your one and only life, and your body is your sacred garment. Take care of it now.
4. Draining Relationships.
If there are people in your life who are abusive, demeaning, angry, hurtful, not supportive, unethical, or crazy, it is time to let them go. You may have your reasons for hanging on, but do these reasons really outweigh the negative impact they have on your life? At the very least, find ways to cut back on interactions with these people.
5. A Disordered Living Space.
How you live is a reflection of who you are. You don’t need to live in a mansion with lots of stuff, but your living space should reflect the joy, order, and peace you want in your life. It should be clean, orderly, and have some expressions of beauty and warmth. It should feel welcoming to you and to guests in your home.
6. Negativity.
It is around us all the time, invading our minds like termites. We hear and see negative ideas and images on the news. Our friends and associates share their negative stories or reactions to life events. We hear negative lyrics in songs or watch violence and abuse in movies or on TV. Before we know it, we feel negative and depressed about our lives. Turn it off. Walk away. Stop listening. Instead watch, read, and listen to uplifting and positive ideas and information.
7. Too Much Stuff.
Over the years, we accumulate. We like to buy things. We like to have things. But these things require our time, energy, money, and effort. They lose their shine and we lose our interest. They become a burden — something we have to dust rather than enjoy. Get rid of this stuff and free up time and energy in your life.
8. Financial Problems.
The stress and emotional pain caused by financial problems steals your joy and peace in life. Whatever you are doing now or did in the past to cause the problem, do something about it now. Yes, some financial difficulties are unavoidable, but do whatever you can to lessen the stress, even if it means delivering pizzas for a while. If you are over-spending, stop. Sell some things. Very few “things” are worth the stress of money worries.
9. Living Out of Your Integrity.
Are you living in alignment with your values? Are you being true to yourself? Do you need to apologize for something or ask for forgiveness? When you are living outside of your integrity, it causes a disruption in your soul and your psyche. It drains your energy, fosters guilt, and saps your self-esteem. Get right with yourself and with others.
10. Living Without Fun.
If you life is all duty and work (even if the work is enjoyable), you are living out-of-balance.Fun and relaxation are necessary ingredients for a full and joyful life. By removing some of the other stresses from your life, you can make room for pleasurable activities, travel, and entertainment. The world is your beautiful oyster meant to be enjoyed.
11. Accepting Ignorance and Inertia.
We use both of these as excuses not to do something. We talk ourselves into our own inability to accomplish or change because we are afraid. We are afraid it will be hard, we are afraid we might fail, we are afraid it won’t work. You and everyone else knows these are just excuses to avoid. Don’t accept them anymore. Stretch yourself.
12. Lack of Communication.
In every single relationship you have, especially your primary relationship, healthy communication is essential to your life happiness. We you aren’t communicating properly with someone, you feel anxious, angry, frustrated, and helpless. Open, honest, loving communication is the number one ingredient for successful relationships. If you don’t know how to communicate in a healthy way, then learn how to and begin to implement these skills.
Use the next few minutes to think about one area in your life you are just tolerating. How does this toleration impact your sense of well-being and joy? What is one action you could take today to begin to eliminate this toleration? Even a small change can make a huge shift for the better in your life.
Read This Article Also
10 Instant Emotional Fitness Tools
How to Find Your Passion (s) in 15 minutes
13 Mistakes Men Make Each Morning
7 Detox Smoothies With Added Health Benefits
Smoothies are a great way to boost your fruits and veggies daily intake. It makes a delicious quick breakfast, a nice refreshing snack, a wonderful healthy dessert or a super post-training drink. Not only the flavor combinations are infinite, you can prepare different recipes to benefit from specific health components from its ingredients. One other great thing about smoothies is that to the opposite of simple juices, it keeps all the natural fiber, which help cleansing the digestive tract. The powerful detox foods that go into it help your liver to detox naturally, and they can help you stay healthy and look great.
Flat Tummy
Rich in digestion supporting ingredients, this smoothie will help prevent bloating and digestive stress that can sabotage your tummy flattening efforts.
- 3/4 c. papaya
- 3/4c. sliced peaches
- 1/2 pear, sliced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger
- 2 mint leaves
- Water to thin
Skin Saver
Antioxidants in berries are known to help to fight wrinkles and other skin ageing signs. Berries are also a great way to control blood sugar that can sabotage your complexion. This smoothie also contains Omega 3, to fight inflammation, as well as vitamins E and C, both renown to help the skin.
- 3/4 c blueberries
- 3/4 c pitted cherries
- 5 strawberries
- 1/4 avocado, peeled and pitted
- 2 tsp wheat germ (optional)
- 2 tsp ground flax seed
- Water, to thin
Peanut Butter Energy Booster
This protein-rich and minerals-filled smoothie will give you long-lasting energy. Cinnamon will help to control your blood sugar so your energy level won’t crash too quickly.
- 1 big banana
- 1 scoop of natural hemp protein powder
- 2 tsp of natural peanut butter
- 1 handful of fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
- Water, to thin
Bone Lover
This vitamin-rich green smoothie contains calcium, magnesium and other bone building minerals to keep your bone strong and healthy.
- 2 bananas
- 1 handful of chard leaves
- 1 handful of kale leaves
- 1 tsp of green matcha powder
- 1/2 cup of homemade almond milk
Immune System Booster
Rich in vitamin A, C and zinc, this smoothie can increase the production of white blood cells and antibodies to get your body ready to resist this season’s infections.
- 1/2 c. mango cubes
- 1/2 c. cantaloupe cubes
- 1/2 c. fresh pineapple cubes
- 1/4 c. chopped pumpkin seeds
- Water, to thin
Natural Skin Tanner
Studies have proven that a beta-carotene rich diet can make your complexion glow, and that particular skin tone is usually considered healthier than a regular skin tan. This smoothie can help you get that healthy glow without risking your skin lying under the sun.
- 1/2 cup of cantaloupe cubes
- 1/2 cup of papaya
- Juice of 1 orange
- 1/2 cup of carrot juice (or water)
- 1 small knob of fresh ginger
Antioxidant Power
Feel the power of this detox foods-rich smoothie. Very rich in antioxidants, this smoothie will help to support your liver to detox naturally and help your body stay healthy and young longer.
- 1/3 cup of blueberries
- 1/3 cup of raspberries
- 1/3 cup of pomegranate kernels
- 1/4 cup of beet juice (optional)
- 1 banana
- Water to thin
What’s your best smoothie recipe? Share it with us!
Related Articles
- Greeno Mojito Smoothie (coolhunting.com)
- 10 Ingredients to Always Put In Your Smoothies (blisstree.com)
7 fantastic snacks that heal
If some doctors had their way today, Americans would be more medicated than industrial feedlot cattle. But what most people don’t realize is that the first line of defense against stress, fatigue, depression, and so many other maladies is found in supermarket aisles, not in the drug store.
Research shows that the vitamins, minerals, and active compounds specific to certain fruits, vegetables, and even chocolate and red wine have an immediate and lasting impact on your mood, your health, your fitness — even your sex life.
Whether you have a big presentation at work, or the need to burn a few hundred extra calories a day (and who doesn’t want to do that?), why not put food to work for you? Here are seven research-backed quick cures just waiting for you in the fresh produce bins and supermarket shelves.
1. When You’re Stressed…
Eat This:
1 Cup of Low-Fat Yogurt or 2 Tbsp of Mixed Nuts
Scientists in Slovakia gave people 3 grams each of two amino acids — lysine and arginine — or a placebo and asked them to deliver a speech. Blood measurements of stress hormones revealed that the amino acid–fortified public speakers were half as anxious during and after the speech as those who took the placebo. Yogurt is one of the best food sources of lysine; nuts pack tons of arginine.
Not That!
A Can of Soda
A study from the American Journal of Public Health found that people who drink 20 ounces of soda daily are three times more likely to be depressed and anxious, compared with those who drink less.
2. When You Want to Increase Your Metabolism…
Drink This:
Green Tea
Catechins, the powerful antioxidants found in green tea, are known to stoke your metabolism, making it burn hotter and torch more calories. A study by Japanese researchers found that participants who consumed 690 milligrams of catechins from green tea daily had significantly lower body-mass indexes and smaller waist measurements than tea-totalers (i.e., they avoid the stuff).
Not That!Nothing
Skipping meals lets your body’s calorie-burning furnace go cold. Spread out snacks throughout the day. Try a cup of yogurt with fresh fruit or almonds between breakfast and lunch, and a hard-boiled egg or hummus with vegetables in the afternoon.
3. When You’re Low on Energy…
Eat This:
A Handful of Trail Mix
Raisins provide potassium, which your body uses to convert sugar into energy. Nuts stock your body with magnesium, which boosts metabolism and improves nerve and muscle function. (When magnesium levels are low, your body produces more lactic acid — the same fatigue-byproduct that makes your muscles ache at the end of a workout.)
Not That!
Espresso-Based Drinks
Sure, the caffeine will perk you up, but the spike in blood sugar that follows — with anywhere from 16 grams (latte) to 59 grams (white chocolate mocha) of sugar coursing through your veins — will ultimately launch your own personal energy crisis. Stick to brewed coffee with one packet of sugar, max.
4. When You Need a Brain Boost…
Eat This:
Blueberries
Antioxidants in blueberries help protect the brain from free-radical damage, which could decrease your risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and improve cognitive processing. Wild blueberries, if you can find them (or grow them!), have even more brain-boosting antioxidants than the cultivated variety.
Not That!
Ice Cream
Sugary foods incite sudden surges of blood glucose that, in the long term, cause sugar highs and lows, and make you as distractable as a toddler in the Disney store. And foods high in saturated fat can clog blood vessels and slow the flow of nutrients and blood to the brain.
5. When You’re Under the Weather…
Drink This:
Ginseng Tea, Hot or Iced
In a Canadian study, people who took 400 milligrams of ginseng a day had 25 percent fewer colds than people who popped a placebo. Ginseng helps kill invading viruses by increasing the body’s production of key immune cells.
Not That!
Caffeinated Beverages and Energy Drinks
Excessive caffeine messes with your sleep schedule and sabotages key immune agents. And insufficient sleep opens the door to colds, upper respiratory infections, and other ills. What’s more, caffeine can dehydrate you, and hydration is vital during illness: Fluids not only transport nutrients to the problem zones, but also carry away toxins.
6. When You Need to Wake Up and Go…
Eat This:
Eggs and Whole-Wheat Toast
Eggs are a great source of protein, and having them for breakfast sets you up for a perfect day of eating. Saint Louis University researchers found that people who eat eggs for breakfast consume 264 fewer calories the rest of the day than those who eat bagels and cream cheese.
Not That!
Bagel and Cream Cheese
At 500 calories and 20 grams of fat, this deli disaster is one of the worst ways to start your day. Sixty grams of fast-burning carbohydrates will cause a dip in energy and a spike in hunger, long before lunchtime. The same goes for croissants, danish, donuts, and pancakes.
7. When You Want to Get ”In the Mood”…
Eat This:
Dark Chocolate
The cocoa in chocolate contains stimulants that increase your body’s sensitivity. Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine, a chemical that can give you a slight natural high. And Italian researchers found that women who often eat chocolate have a higher sex drive than those who don’t. Make sure your chocolate has at least 60 percent cacao.
Not That!
The Third Glass of Wine
The alcohol in wine affects your prefrontal cortex, which can decrease inhibition and up your sexual appetite. But only for the first glass or two. Beyond that, the toxic affects of alcohol in your system take over and are as likely to make you sleepy as they are to make you sexy. The more pouring, the more snoring.
10 Instant Emotional Fitness Tools
When things get out of control and you momentarily lose your emotional balance, there are any number of little things you can do to regain it. Here are ten tools to help get you started.
1. Wash your hands and face and brush your teeth. It cools and cleans the parts of your body that you use most frequently, which is relaxing, and gives you that “fresh start” feeling.
2. Put on clean socks and some shoes that you haven’t worn in a few days. Shoes take a day or two to release any moisture they have absorbed, and this is a very easy way to put a little pep back into your step.
3. Give yourself a good shave (face or legs). This is another instant refresher. Especially if you have sensitive skin or the weather is dry. Plus, when we know we are looking our best, we naturally feel better.
4. Look at any trophy, diploma, or certificate of achievement that you have earned. And if it isn’t framed and on the wall, frame it now. These are reminders of your accomplishments, and taking in your success is important to maintaining your self-esteem.
5. Remember your last (or greatest) success and think about it for sixty seconds. Taking in your success as often as possible will help you reach another and another. Quite simply, it reminds you that if you’ve done it before, you can do it again.
6. Know you are the person your loved ones think you are. And yes, that goes for your dog too. Knowing that you are unconditionally loved can’t help but make you feel good about yourself. It’s so easy to beat yourself up, I recommend pulling yourself up instead.
7. Wash your car, inside and out. Hey, when our wheels are shiny, we feel better. If you don’t think this applies to you, just remember how you felt the last time you got a ride in someone’s very funky car. Race you to the car wash.
8. Organize your closet and get rid of anything that no longer fits. Old clothes may come back into style, but you really don’t want them on hangers for the next twenty years. Throwing out the old makes room for the new. For some, the feeling they get from putting on a new “power suit” fills them with pride.
9. Cook a lovely meal. Even if you are by yourself, preparing a tasty dinner, setting the table, and treating yourself to a wonderful culinary experience will lift your spirits. Sharing it with someone you love and/or respect will make it even more nurturing.
10. Look around you, remember that you started with nothing, and know that everything you see, you created. We can all lose our feelings of self-worth, especially when something goes wrong in our world. The truth is that if you have done it before, you can do it again-no matter what.
None of these tasks has to be uncomfortable or take you much time. Finding ways to give yourself a little boost when you’re not feeling like you’re at the top of your game is a trick that truly happy people use on a regular basis
Sacred Heart Diet – Quick fast weight loss
Okay, before i go into this diet in detail, be aware it IS a fad diet, however its one of the more healthy ones, and its VERY effective. I used this to kick my plateau.
I would never reccomend this unless you absolutly had to kick a plateau, or need to loose weight for surgery etc (which is why i did it).
Its very hard to stick to, and i had been happily sticking to a 1200 calorie a day diet for 8 months at the time of doing this, and i STILL found it excessivly hard to stick too. On the bright side, im on day 6 now and ive lost 4.5kg/10lb.
It generally seems to deny you:
* All fats
* All Starches
* All Wheat based products
* All Processed foods
If correctly followed, it will clean out your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well-being. After only 7 days of this process, you will begin to feel lighter by at least 10 pounds (4.5kg) and possibly 17 pounds(7.7kg), and experience an abundance of energy. (though i felt tired for the first couple days on this diet)
- SOUP:
-
- 1 or 2 cans of stewed tomatoes
- 3 plus large green onions
- 1 large can of beef broth (no fat)
- 1 pkg. Lipton Soup mix (chicken noodle)
- 1 bunch of celery
- 2 cans green beans
- 2 lbs. Carrots
- 2 Green Peppers
- Season with salt, pepper curry, parsley, if desired, or bouillon, hot or Worcestershire sauce. Cut veggies in small to medium pieces. Cover with water. Boil fast for 10 minutes. Reduce to simmer and continue to cook until veggies are tender.
- This soup can be eaten anytime you are hungry during the week. Eat as much as you want, whenever you want. This soup will not add calories. The more you eat, the more you will lose. You may want to fill a thermos in the morning if you will be away during the day.
- DRINKS:
-
- Unsweetened juices
- Tea (also herbal)
- Coffee
- Cranberry juice
- Skim milk
- Water, water, water
- DAY ONE
- Any fruit (except bananas). Cantaloupes and watermelon are lower in calories than most other fruits. Eat only soup and fruit today.
- DAY TWO
- All vegetables. Eat until you are stuffed with fresh raw, cooked or canned veggies. Try to eat green leafy veggies and stay away from dry beans, peas or corn. Eat veggies along with the soup. At dinnertime tonight reward yourself with a big baked potato and butter. Don’t eat any fruits through today.
- DAY THREE
- Eat all the soup, fruit and veggies you want. Do not have a baked potato. If you have eaten as above for three days and not cheated, you should find that you have lost 5-7 pounds.
- DAY FOUR
- Bananas and skim milk: Eat at least 3 bananas and drink as much milk as you can today, along with the soup. Bananas are high in calories and carbohydrates, as is the milk but on this particular day, your body will need the potassium and carbs. Proteins and calcium to lessen the cravings for sweets.
- DAY FIVE
- Beef and tomatoes: you may have 10 to 20 ounces (300-550grams) of beef and a can of tomatoes, or as many as 6 tomatoes on this day. Eat the soup at least once today.
- DAY SIX
- Beef and veggies, eat to your heart’s content of the beef and veggies today. You can even have 2-3 steaks if you like with green leafy veggies but no baked potato. Be sure to eat the soup at least once today.
- DAY SEVEN
- Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juice and veggies, again, be sure to stuff yourself and eat the soup. You can add cooked veggies to your rice if you wish.
- By the end of the 7th day, if you have not cheated on this diet, you should have lost 10 to 17 pounds. If you have lost more than 17 pounds, stay off the diet for two days before resuming the diet again.
- This diet is fast. The secret lies within the principle that you will burn more calories than you take in. It will flush your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well-being. This diet does not lend itself to drinking any alcoholic beverages at any time. Because of the fat build-up in your system. Go off the diet at least 14 hours before any intake of alcohol.
- Due to the variety of digestive systems in individuals, this diet will affect everyone differently. After day three, you will have more energy than when you began, if you do not cheat. After being on the diet for several days, you will find that your bowel movements have changed. Eat a cup of bran or fiber. Although you can have black coffee with this diet, you may find that you don’t need caffeine after the third day.
- The basic fat burning soup can be eaten anytime you feel hungry during the seven days. Eat as much as you wish. Remember the more you eat, the more you will lose. You can eat broiled, boiled or baked chicken instead of the beef. Absolutely no skin on the chicken. If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for the beef on only one of the beef days. You need the high protein in the beef for the other days.
- Continue on the diet as long as you wish and feel the difference both mentally and physically.
- DO NOT – DO NOT
- No bread, alcohol, carbonated drinks (including diet drinks). Remember, absolutely no fried foods.
- DO – DO – DO – DO
- Drink plenty – at least 6 to 8 glasses – of water a day, as well as any combination of the following beverages: black coffee, unsweetened fruit drinks, cranberry juice and skim milk.
- This diet comes from the Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital that is used for overweight heart patients in order to lose weight rapidly, usually prior to surgery.
100 Ways to Uncomplicate Your Life
My grandfather used to say that we were born as smart as we’d ever be, and that we became less bright with age. I never understood what he meant, until today.
You see, when we’re born we see the world in an uncomplicated way. We know what we need, and we ask for it. We like nice people, and we don’t like mean people. We sleep when we’re tired, we eat when we’re hungry, and we stop eating when we’re full.
As we grow older, we eat and drink to console ourselves, rather than addressing what’s bothering us. We overwork to avoid close relationships, rather than finding people we can trust to form strong bonds with. We hold grudges, play games, spend more than we make, want things we don’t need, and we get too far away from our basic human needs. In other words, we complicate things.
Today, on what would have been my grandfather’s 88th birthday, I dedicate this list to my Papa. Thank you for everything. I finally get it.
1. Don’t try to read other people’s minds
2. Get up 30 minutes earlier so that you don’t rush/get a ticket while driving too fast/have to explain why you’re late/get fired
3. Get 8 hours of sleep per night so that you think more clearly
5. Start saving and investing every week, no matter how little you can spare
6. Balance your checkbook
7. Don’t try to be friends with everyone. Cultivate closer relationships with fewer people.
8. Don’t try to do business with everyone. Identify your target client and take very good care of them.
9. Before getting angry, ask yourself if it will really matter in 20 years
10. Focus on being a good person, not on pleasing others
11. Stay home this Saturday, and finish off that nagging chore that you need to finish
12. Kiss and make up
13. Make a weekly menu, and shop for only those items at the market
14. Ask your grandparents the best way to uncomplicate life, and try it for a month
15. Fill up your gas tank when it’s half full
16. Don’t drink alcohol when you’re tired, sad or mad
17. Pay your bills on time
18. Get an annual physical examination
19. Say “I love you” to your significant other and to your children. Studies show that more marriages last, and fewer kids use drugs, when these words are spoken every day.
20. For just one day, imagine everyone’s intentions are good because most people’s are
21. Give away clothes that haven’t been worn in two years
22. Throw out clothes that are in disrepair, and can’t be mended
23. When you have a conflict with someone, talk it out. Don’t let it turn into more than it is.
24. Know what your priorities are in life, and act as if they are your priorities
25. Tell the truth
26. Don’t cheat
27. Don’t steal
28. If you’re holding a ridiculous grudge, let it go
29. Clean your house weekly, so that it doesn’t become too large a chore
30. Do your best at work, or at school
31. Don’t eat when you aren’t humgry
32. Eat when you are hungry
33. Be yourself
34. Say no unapologetically
35. Cook simple meals
36. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses
37. Pay off your car before buying a new one
38. Organise your desk at the office
39. Change your smoke alarm batteries when the clock springs forward, and when it falls back
40. Organise your important paperwork
41. Take only half the clothes that you planned to take with you on holiday
42. Help your children with their homework every night, and have an open dialogue with their teachers
43. Have white sheets and white towels in children’s rooms, because they’re easily bleached
44. Spend your time with nice people
45. Avoid drama
46. Don’t text or talk on the phone while driving
47. Turn off the television/video games/computer; they’re time consumers
48. Don’t engage in office politics
49. Refuse to gossip, or talk behind other people’s backs
50. Do the dishes right after dinner
51. Never go to sleep angry
52. Ask nicely for what you need and want
53. Walk 10,000 steps per day to help your heart
54. Do 20 push-ups before speaking in anger
55. Leave work at work
56. Don’t befriend anyone that isn’t trustworthy
57. Don’t envy others
58. Have your oil changed
59. Take vitamin C before you catch a cold
60. Don’t work more than 8 hours per day
61. Weed your garden weekly
62. Wash your car weekly
63. Have a spring cleaning month every year, and do one room at a time
64. You don’t need to be best friends with work colleagues, but build respectful partnerships
65. Don’t drink and drive
66. Don’t look for reasons to be angry or sad, look for reasons to be happy. You’ll always be able to find plenty of each.
67. Be friendly with your neighbours
68. Return emails and phone messages promptly
69. Schedule in free time
70. Don’t procrastinate
71. Do what you say you’ll do, when you say you’ll do it
72. Be more flexible when you’re able to be
73. Forgive and forget. End of story.
74. Break the consumerism habit…put a three month moratorium in place on buying anything not deemed a necessity
75. Start your diet on September 1, rather than January 1, so that you won’t also have holiday pounds to lose
76. Take care of any health issues or concerns
77. Have your tires rotated
78. Have your brakes checked
79. Have your eyes checked
80. Don’t let your imagination run away with you
81. Let go of perfection in others
82. Let go of perfection in yourself
83. Don’t try to help those that refuse to help themselves
84. Find a way to reduce your commute to work
85. Have an alloted amount of worry time per day/week, that you strictly abide by
86. Drink more water
87. Eat more salmon
88. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill
89. Wear your hair in a classic, easy to care for style
90. Finish what you start
91. Wear classic clothes and shoes that never go out of style
92. Create a daily routine
93. Have a 1, 5, 10 and 20 year plan for your financial and life goals
94. Slow down
95. Eat out less often
96. When you ask your husband which outfit looks best, thank him for his answer and wear the one he liked
97. Allow your children to grow up
98. Clean out your garage, and donate anything that hasn’t been used in the past year
99. Stretch every day
100. If a relationship is over, let it go
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11 Awesome Hangover Cures
Hangovers are the worst. That nasty combo of headache, nausea and gut-pain can cost you precious hours of your life. While there are certainly preventative measures you can take to reduce the likelihood of a hangover (headache medication, food, lots of water before bed, etc.), inevitably you’re going to get stuck with a dirty hangover that you need to crush before it kills your day. Here are 11 awesome hangover cures that you can turn to when you need to ease the pain.
11. Ginger
Ginger is an all-purpose digestive aid. You can eat it with sushi, drink some ginger tea or mix ginger juice with water for a nausea-reducing elixir that’ll balance your gastric fluids and calm your system. This powerful antioxidant and anticoagulant can work wonders, but don’t consume fresh ginger on an empty stomach. Mix it up with something else.
10. Honey
Honey is a great antioxidant that’s loaded with fructose and glucose. In Poland, people mix honey in with pickle juice for a hydrating, salty hangover-recovery treat. If the idea of honey pickle juice sounds foul to you, just take a couple table spoons of the magic bee sauce and enjoy the fresh coat of healing goodness.
9. Prickly Pear
For desert drunks, the prickly pear is a solid morning option that’ll help take the edge off the hurt. The extract from the prickly pear cactus can help reduce nausea, loss of appetite and dry mouth. You can find prickly pear extract in a bunch of different dietary supplements.
8. Eggs
Yep, eggs. Eggs have cysteine in ‘em. Cysteine is an awesome amino acid that breaks down acetaldehyde, a toxin that’s a byproduct of the oxidation of ethanol. Acetaldehyde causes hangovers and eggs break down the acetaldehyde. So get over the fact that you don’t want breakfast and scramble that hangover out of your system.
7. Coca Cola
Oh the sweet, sweet nectar of Coca Cola can do wonders for a messed up belly. Some say that Coca Cola was originally invented as a hangover cure. I don’t know about all that, but whether you’ve eaten a big meal or you need to turn down the volume down in your stomach, a cold Coke just feels good.
6. Greasy Diner Breakfast
Whether you’re pounding pancakes at IHOP, feasting on French toast at Norm’s or plowing through Moons Over My Hammy at Denny’s, greasy-ass diner food will help you booze-coated belly correct itself. Greasy food sticks to the stomach wall and help slow down the process of alcohol absorption. That’s not to say that you won’t feel like trash afterward, but it’ll be a different kind of trash – a much more manageable form of discomfort. If you have the chance to close the night out with some greasy food, that’s a solid hangover prevention method, but if you miss the prevention window, reach for some bacon in the morning.
5. Gatorade + Banana
Electrolytes. You need ‘em, man. When you’re recovering from a night of drunken excess, you’re bound to end up dehydrated. Drinking lots of water helps, yes, but a steady stream of electrolytes will hydrate you more quickly. Your hung-over body also needs an influx of Vitamin B and potassium. Drinking alcohol drains your levels of Vitamins B6 and B12. Bananas will calm your gut-hurt and expedite the metabolism of alcohol.
4. Bloody Mary
If you’re head is pounding and your stomach is sloshed with whatever god-awful combo of drinks you consumed last night, drinking more sounds like the last thing you wanna do. But more booze can actually help you right the ship. A nice breakfast cocktail like a Bloody Mary can serve the dual purpose of a breakfast and hangover remedy. This is a great option if food consumption is totally out of the question, and the tomato juice will help you metabolize alcohol more quickly.
3. Pho
Vietnamese rice noodles with broth and beef (or tripe or chicken) will hydrate you and fill your gut with a nice layer of nutrition, exfoliation and toxin-fighting spices. Don’t go too crazy with the hot sauce though. Under normal circumstances, unreasonable amounts of Sriracha in your Pho would be a great idea, but when you’re dealing with a tender tummy, you gotta keep it mellow. Add some lime, basil, sweet Hoison sauce, cilantro, onions and bean sprouts, and go to town with a soup spoon and chopsticks in hand.
2. Pad Thai
More rice noodle love here. Pad Thai will fill that void in your stomach with a tender helping of noodles, eggs, tamarind juice and some light protein like shrimp, chicken or tofu. I don’t know the science behind it, but it works like a charm.
1. Matzo Ball Soup
The medicinal healing powers of the matzo ball have been well documented throughout history. Known as Jewish penicillin, matzo ball soup can kill a hangover, eliminate pink eye and in some cases, even cure cancer. Embrace the power of the matzo. It’s the most comfortable comfort food ever invented.
Habits that Will Change your Life
Developing good habits is the basic of personal development and growth. Everything we do is the result of a habit that was previously taught to us. Unfortunately, not all the habits that we have are good, that’s why we are constantly trying to improve.
The following is a list of 30 practical habits that can make a huge difference in your life.
You should treat this list as a reference, and implement just one habit per month. This way you will have the time to fully absorb each of them, while still seeing significant improvements each month.
Health habits
- Exercise 30 minutes every day. Especially if you don’t do much movement while working, it’s essential that you get some daily exercise. 30 minutes every day are the minimum recommended for optimal health.
- Eat breakfast every day. Breakfast is the more important meal of the day, yet so many people skip it. Personally, I like to eat a couple of toasts in the morning along with a fruit beverage.
- Sleep 8 hours. Sleep deprivation is never a good idea. You may think that you are gaining time by sleeping less, when in reality you are only gaining stress and tiredness. 8 hours are a good number of hours for most people, along with an optional 20 minutes nap after lunch.
- Avoid snacking between meals. Snacking between meals is the best way to gain weight. If you are hungry, eat something concrete. Otherwise don’t. Update: for clarification, I mean don’t eat junk food between meals, but eating real food it’s ok.
- Eat five portions of fruits and vegetables every day. Our body and brain loves getting vegetables and fruit, so I highly recommend eating as much of them as possible. Five portions is the dose that’s usually recommended by many health associations.
- Eat fish. Fish is rich of omega 3 and other healthy elements. At least one meal per week of fish should be enough for getting all these nutrients.
- Drink one glass of water when you wake up. When you wake up, your body is dehydrated and needs liquid. Make the habit of drinking one glass of water after you wake up in the morning. Also, drink more during the day.
- Avoid soda. Soda is often one of the most unhealthy beverage you can find. Limit your consumption of soda as much as possible and you’re body will be grateful for that.
- Keep your body clean. I don’t advise spending your day in front of the mirror, but a minimum of personal care does never hurt.
10. If you smoke, stop it. There’s no reason to smoke anymore, and quitting is possible.
11. If you drink, stop it. Same as above. Don’t think that alcohol will solve your problems. It never does. The only exception is one glass of wine per day during meals.
12. Take the stairs. This is just a hack that forces you to do a minimum of exercise. Instead of taking the elevator, take the stairs.
Productivity habits
- Use an inbox system. Make the habit of keeping track of all the ideas and things that comes to mind. You can use a notebook to do this, and then sync everything on your computer.
- Prioritize. If you have a list of things to do, where do you start? One way is to prioritize your list. If you are in doubt, ask yourself: “If I could only accomplish one thing today, what would it be?”
- Plan, but not too much. Planning is important, and you should decide in advance what you are going to do today or this week. However, planning for more than a few weeks is usually inefficient, so I would not worry too much about that.
- Wake up early. Waking up early in the morning is a great way to gain extra time. I personally like to wake up at 5 am, so that by 9 am I have already accomplished what otherwise would have taken me many days..
- Check your email only twice per day. Email can easily become an addiction, but it’s usually unnecessary to check it every 10 minutes. Make an effort and check your email only once or twice per day, see if the world will still rotate as before after you try this.
- Eliminate unimportant tasks. Being busy all day does not mean you are doing important stuff. Eliminate every activity that’s not important, and focus on what really matters.
- Clean off your desk and room. Having a clear room and desk is important to maintain focus and creativity.
- Automate. There are a lot of tasks that you need to perform every day or every week. Try to automate them as much as possible.
- Set strict deadlines. When you do something, decide in advance when you’re going to stop. There’s a rule that states that you will fulfill all the time you have available for completing a task, so make an habit of setting strict deadlines for maximizing your productivity.
10. Take one day off per week. Instead of working every day, take one day off per week (for example sunday) where you are not going to turn on your computer. Use that time for doing recreational activities like going for a walk.
Personal Development habits
- Read 1 book per week. Reading is a good way to keep your brain active. With just 30 minutes per day you should be able to read one book per week, or more than 50 books per year.
- Solve puzzles. Quizzes, word games, etc. are all good ways to exercise your brain.
- Think positively. You are what you think, all the time.
- Make fast decisions. Instead of thinking for one hour wherever you are going to do something, make your decisions as fast as possible (usually less than 1 minute).
- Wait before buying. Waiting 48 hours before buying anything is a tremendous money saver, try it.
- Meditate 30 minutes per day. A great way to gain clearness and peace is through meditation. 30 minutes are not a lot, but enough to get you started with meditation.
Career habits
- Start a blog. Blogging is one of the best way to put your word out. It doesn’t have to be around a specific topic, even a personal blog will do.
- Build a portfolio. If your job is creating stuff, building a portfolio is a great way to show what you are capable of. You can also contribute stuff for free if that applies to your work.
What do you think? What are the habits that changed your life?
