Why a Slower Pace for Walking Is More Helpful to Weight Loss

There are advantages to walking more slowly.

Walking is a great form of exercise.  Though power walking at a fast stride can help you burn more calories than a leisurely stroll, you may want to slow your pace down to benefit the most.  According to some experts, walking slower could play a part in altering the body’s pH to stimulate the glands controlling metabolism to work harder, which means you may see results faster.

The reason behind this theory is all the processed foods in our diet to the treated tap the water we drink changes the way our weight controlling glands behave. Therefore, if you are always on a diet and never seem to lose any weight, then your glands could be to blame because of an acid overload produced by your diet.

When there is an influx of acid, the body adjusts to defend itself by using fat to prevent it from entering the bloodstream.  This unbalance pH level explains how easily we add on the pounds.

Unfortunately, vigorous exercise was not the best solution.  The muscles forced too hard using oxygen to keep up generating energy, eventually can’t get enough oxygen, turning out an acidic by-product of lactic acid instead.

However, walking slower with deep breathing is more ideal because of the effect on the body’s muscles in relation to an improved lymph flow during a gentle stroll.  Lymph fluid is the watery substance that collects the acidic waste and toxins for the body to eliminate.  Slower, more relaxed walking tunes up that lymph fluid flow to be more efficient to prevent pounds packing on. 

As you take that leisurely stroll, taking regular deep breaths in through your nose and out through the mouth is equally important in this process.  This is crucial because it will help you take in maximum oxygen for naturally alkalinizing the blood.

Give this relaxed walking and deep breathing a try and see the difference it can make to help melt stubborn fat.  You may be pleasantly surprised at the change in your shape

How to Save Your Feet From Suffering Before You Begin a Workout Program

This post can help you get more out of your workout.

You might be trying to get back in shape.   Before you start a workout program, your choice of shoes can either help or hinder your efforts.  However, there are some things that you need to think about when it relates to your shoes that can make a difference.

When you are debating over a new pair of workout shoes make sure that you have some extra room for your toes to account for movement. Otherwise, your toes can hurt from ramming into the front of the shoes.  You should have about one-half inch of wiggle room from the toe area.

Unintentional Mistakes That You May Be Making to Hamper Your Weight Loss Efforts!

Are you helping or hindering your weight loss efforts? 

I always had a great appreciation for delicious food.  Unfortunately that love can sneak up on you and add unwanted pounds to the body.  If you are also guilty of overly enjoying food and want your body back, then you know what follows next with the cycle of dieting and exercise.  However, if you’ve been losing this weight loss battle more than winning, then you could be unintentionally sabotaging yourself because of what you assumed was true.

While it is true that drastically cutting calories does seem to initially help you weigh less when you jump on the scale, attempting this form of dieting also backfires in time.  In the world we live, temptation is all around us. Constantly denying yourself something you crave eventually sets in.  Your willpower breaks, only resulting in you eating more, perhaps even to make up for all you missed. 

How to Stop Letting Emotional Eating Take Control of Your Life and Body!

Food and emotions affect people differently.  For example, some of us when bored, lonely or under stress cannot eat.  On the other hand, others experiencing that same thing may find themselves mindlessly eating more–and usually not what’s good for them.

If you’re one that reacts to such obstacles in your life with food, then you are not alone. Half of my own family, including yours truly, have been known to find temporary comfort in ice cream, cakes, pies, and too many cookies when problems occur while the rest need coaxed to eat anything because they lose their appetites.  Instead of letting those emotions get the better of us, I have some suggestions that may help keep you from falling into this emotional overeating trap.

Taking comfort in rich foods to distract you from what's going on in your life can backfire.

When the first thing you do when faced with a difficult situation is to head to the freezer for ice cream or raid the refrigerator for something rich and loaded with calories that you’ll eventually regret eating later don’t deny yourself what you’re craving.  My advice is to eat what you’re hungry for, only a moderate size serving. Though a treat or that snack piles on extra calories, denying yourself what your mind has its heart set on will only make you want to eat that wrong choice of food more.  

How to Survive Winter Without Adding on the Pounds!

Keeping your scale close to where you eat  in the kitchen helps your thinking about what goes into your mouth.dd caption

I don’t know about you, but winter is always the time of year when those pounds can creep up.  Overeating or indulging in higher calorie dishes and treats during the holidays doesn’t help to start this fattening cycle. Later, you tell yourself that you simply need to eat more to keep warm–-at least this has always been my excuse.  Nonetheless, with the dieting strategies that I’m about to share, you’ll be better equipped to keep your eating more in control.

BuffBoxx Fitness Subscription Box December 2016 Review

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

My December 2016 BuffBoxx had over a $100 value!

When you’re trying to get in shape, you want all the help that you can get, especially if you hope to get stronger as well as improve your overall health.  A well-coordinated fitness subscription box like BuffBoxx can offer an easy way toward the success of your fitness goals to keep you motivated and on track. 

AbCollar Review--For Strengthening Muscles and Safer, More Productive Workouts!

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

AbCollar is an easy, but effective device to keep your body from injury.

Sometimes, we start an exercise regime without realizing the strain that we may be putting our bodies through unless you have a personal trainer watching your every move.  You could put too much pressure accidentally on the wrong muscles to slow down your progress or worse suffer real injury to your body. However, there is a device called the AbCollar that can help make your workout safer and your efforts exercising more effective by working those muscles harder. 

The AbCollar is weightless when wearing.

Besides Shaping the Figure and Improving Overall Health, Why Exercise Is Good for Your Brain!

This beauty knows the value of exercise for keeping toned and focused.

If we’re being honest here, how many of us exercise as often as we should?  After all, our days are jam-packed between work and family that there just doesn’t seem to be enough time or energy left alone to think about it.  I was one of those people that made those excuses for avoiding exercise since I am practically attached to the computer almost like I was wired in from early morning until night like many of us now are. 

However, sitting too long at a time is not good for circulation, the backside or the brain. Yet, what if I told you that even the smallest amount of exercise can help you get on the right track?  

How to Select Great Tasting, Figure and Skin Beneficial Melons

This beauty knows and appreciates the benefits of eating melons!

Fresh melons are abundant right now and friends of your figure, skin, and overall health with all their vitamins and minerals that they provide.  However, they can be confusing when you are trying to pick out a good one.  

When you are looking for a ripe watermelon, you want one that has more of a nice, uniform shape and a creamy yellow underside.  Those that are all green in color haven't fully ripened.  The bit of yellow at the bottom is a sign that the melon had a chance to better mature for as long as it sat on the ground.  Another sign of sweetness is looking for marks where a bee might have stung it.  Some people like to tap their melon to tell if it is ripe.  I never had much luck with that method, but my friend swears by it.  If you hit that watermelon and hear somewhat of a hollow sound, then this is another indicator of a good melon.

Watermelons not only have ample vitamin C and A that you can get a fifth of your recommended daily supply, but are low in calories with 46 per cup so you can enjoy snacking and dessert more freely.  This fruit cleanses the toxins.  Equally impressive is that this particular melon doesn’t cause bloating like what you can experience when eating peaches or plums with the way it breaks down the sugars in your system.

Cantaloupes, on the other hand, need a different sort of inspection.  What you want to do is carefully examine the indented area where the stem was.  If that stem end fails to look sunk in enough, then pass that one by because it is not fully developed.  It should have stayed on the vine longer!

What I really love about cantaloupes is what it can do for your skin with all its antioxidant power and carotenoids for beauty for protecting and renewing tissues, but also for its anti-inflammatory phytonutrients for general health.  

To pick out a great honeydew melon, make sure that the rind has an even texture with white, pale green or some yellow color to it.  Those that like to judge a melon by smell, a good honeydew is one that has somewhat of a light fruity aroma.  Avoid ones that are overly fragrant or have a hard stem end.  You want to find a bit of softness near the stem.

Besides having just 60 calories per cup, honeydews are just helpful for your system as watermelon with all the water this melon contains.  Believe it or not, honeydews and bananas are comparable in potassium. They also are rich in B vitamins like thiamine (B1), niacin (B3),  pantothenic acid (B5), including copper to further benefit your complexion.

Now is the perfect time to take advantage of what the melon has to offer with their healthy deliciousness and nutritional capabilities for what they can do for our bodies and skin!

Why Your Choice of Workout Shoe Can Either Help Or Hinder Your Weight Loss Efforts

This beauty knows a comfortable fit can help her extend her run or workout.

If you want to perfect your body and get in shape, then you might be thinking about new sneakers.  Despite a hefty price of the style that you like, there are some considerations that you need to keep in mind. Otherwise, you could be shortchanging yourself from your best workout in ill-fitting shoes. 

You want a shoe that gives you ample toe room through all that moving that you’re going to do.  After all, you don’t want your toes banging against the front of the shoe if the toe box is too short or too angled.  Instead, give yourself a little extra room to take that impact from all those varied movements.  

How much extra toe room is enough? A good length to aim for is a size about the width of your thumb.  A broader toe box also is a better bet for comfort through your workout because the toes won’t be pressed so closely together as a more angled toe box.

Shoes that have leather steppers are always better for feet since they allow them to breathe more over synthetic materials, which hold sweat in.  

Be sure to always shop dressing the sore areas of your feet such as corns, bunions, heels, etc. before you buy that shoe. The shoe may fit differently with your protective wear or that bandage with adhesive tape that you will be wearing through your workout than just trying the shoe on without them.  

You may think these few pointers don’t amount to much-–that is until you do your workout.  Your feet will thank you!

Recipe: You Won’t Miss Taste, Only Calories With My Creamy, Low-Cal Italian Salad Dressing!

 A delicious plate of my Creamy, Low-Cal Italian Salad Dressing!

Though extremely appetizing, creamy salad dressings often can have more calories in a few tablespoons that a total meal.  Of course, you can always have the option of dipping a dry salad just for the lightest way to eat it.  Nonetheless, it isn’t the same.  But, what if I told you that the recipe that I have for you is more friendly for your diet and will fool your taste with its satisfying creaminess, spices and herbs while being more nourishing with cottage cheese in the base at the same time?

Deceiving Health Foods That Can Sabotage Your Dieting Efforts!

Rethinking your food choices is the first step to losing weight.

This is the time of year many will be attempting to shed that accumulated winter weight. If you’re one of us, then you may want to rethink your food choices because not all healthy foods are as diet-friendly as you may be led to believe. 

A common dieting problem is often in the product’s labeling when you see promises of words such fat-free, sugar-free or salt-free when you shop for groceries. You need to carefully decipher that label of those foods first because they can be misleading.  For example, “fat-free” may have the manufacturer compensating for the missing fat with other ingredients such as an excessive amount of salt or sugar.  The real truth is the FDA allows that product to have 0.5 grams per serving of sugar or fat or less than five calories per serving.  

Why You Really Need Breakfast If You Want to Keep Weight Off

Eating breakfast energizes the body and mind but also helps with weight.

How many times have you heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? After all, it is the fuel your body needs to get going as well as carry you through all you do until lunch. Yet, some of us may tend to skip it either for lack of appetite or just because of time.

If this sounds like you, then you aren’t doing your body or health a favor.  Research has shown those that skip breakfast usually eat more calories through the day than breakfast eaters.  In fact, close to half of those that don’t normally eat breakfast have a significant weight problem.  

Perhaps, you wake up and feel too full to even consider a bowl of oatmeal, cereal, eggs, yogurt, fruits, smoothie, or the like.  If so, the cause could be from eating too late at night whether your dinner or due to bad snacking habits.  

Hunger does kick in even if it is an hour or two later and when it does, we do satisfy it with foods that are available like visiting vending machines for empty nutritional calories from candy bars, chips, etc.  Instead, you might want to start retraining your eating habits to get yourself back on track.  How does this happen you might wonder?  

Review: Sugarless Sensations Sugarless Subscription (Winter Traditions 2015 Box) Can Make Weight Management Easier!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Sugarless Sensations Sugarless Winter Traditions 2015 Box

Sugarless Sensations

According to the USDA, the average American consumes somewhere in the range of 150 to 170 pounds of refined sugars a year, which increases our weight and chance to develop diabetes.   Yet, unless you were told to watch your diet, have diabetes, or live with someone that may be a pre-diabetic, then you probably would never give it much thought or know how hard it is to miss all the cookies, cakes, pies, desserts, ice cream, etc. while the rest of the world continues to eat those sugary treats without you. However, with a Sugarless Sensations Subscription I can honestly tell you would never know the difference.  

Take a look at all you get and the generous sizes in a Sugarless Sensations Box like this Winter Traditions Box.  A card detailing each product comes with it.

Anyone trying to find delicious sugar-free substitutes, low-carb or low glycemic foods really would love this subscription.  Each Sugarless Sensations box has anywhere between six and eight sugarless treats and tasty, savory snacks that would fool even your pickiest eater for a cost of $39 a month with free shipping.  

You may think that I must be exaggerating because nothing sugar-free or low-carb could possibly compare to the real deal.  I was of the same thought until sampling this fabulously curated selection that came in their Sugarless Sensations Winter Traditions Sugarless Box.

Trust me, watching your diet will never taste better with the companies chosen for this box.  Wait until you hear more about that Winter Traditions Sugarless Box that arrived and then you can judge.

The Help You Need When Bloating Occurs to Get Your Svelte Figure Back!

Of course, you can unbutton your jeans when bloating begins.  However, you can do more with these helpful tips.

Having a bloated stomach is no picnic.  Despite how great an article of clothing fit you before, it can suddenly ruin your look and mood when you come face to face with your full-length mirror.  When this problem occurs the immediate solution is rummaging through your closet and trying one thing after another for a better fit. However, you lessen your chances of bloating if you know the difference between foods that can cause bloating and others that can help reduce it.

When your body bloats, it is also retaining extra water that needs to leave your system.  Therefore, foods that are natural diuretics can help get those trapped fluids moving along as they should.  

Foods That Help When Bloating Occurs

Bananas are excellent for help with water retention.  They not only have potassium for keeping leg cramps away but also for how wonderfully that specific mineral rids the body of sodium in the process.

Watermelon is another fruit that helps reduce that bloat with all its juice.  It also has a healthy dose of potassium, vitamins A and C, dietary fiber and more lycopene than any other form of fresh produce according to Watermelon.org.  For 40 calories per cup, you can enjoy its sweetness without guilt that you are breaking your diet.

Other natural diuretics are citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons.  They can help push excess water out while keeping you hydrated.  Instead of coffee that contributes to bloat, you might want to try switching to water with some fresh lemon for your beverage. It’s refreshing and also will act as a mild laxative to keep everything moving instead of adding to this problem.

Leafy green vegetables also have a lot of beneficial potassium that will come to your rescue when your tummy swells.  Fresh spinach, kale and Swiss chard are just a few rich sources of potassium as well. 

Asparagus is another winner when bloated since it has asparagine, an amino acid that makes it a natural diuretic also.  

Cucumbers are something else to reach for when bloating occurs due to its quercetin, a flavonoid antioxidant that counteracts swelling.

Celery can also rescue you when you’re bloated.  This vegetable is also a natural diuretic.

Tropical fruits like kiwis, pineapples and papayas all have protein-splitting enzymes that could help with digestion and a bloat problem.

Probiotics like yogurt or soy drinks or any labeled foods with “live and active cultures” have beneficial bacteria that can help.  

Something else that comes in handy is trying fennel seeds, especially if you’re suffering with painful gas. The most direct way is to chew about one-half teaspoon of these seeds.  

These are just some suggestions that can help relieve the discomfort as well as deflate that puffy stomach. However, if bloating happens more often than you like then you may want to eliminate some foods from your diet.

Foods That Contribute to Bloating

Cabbage, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli are just a few examples.   They contain a sugar called raffinose that can stay undigested in your gut for a time until your own body’s bacteria kicks in. Unfortunately, this wait can cause stomach expansion and gas pain with it.  

Dairy products can cause the same problem if you happen to be unable to digest lactose.  A simple fix is buying lactose-free milk and nondairy replacements for cheeses.

Coffee is not the only beverage that causes bloating.  Carbonated beverages can also be blamed, especially worse are the ones that contain artificial sweeteners that have sugars that your digestive system has difficulty in breaking down.

Apples have a lot of natural sugars that can bring on bloating due to how long it takes the body to process them.  Pears, raisins, prunes, and grapes can be just as detrimental.

You also might want to try salting your food less or use a salt alternative.  Do try my herbal salt substitute recipe. Here are two other flavorful homemade substitutes I like to use.  If you do, you will retain less water and have a flatter stomach.  

Start looking at the sodium content of the foods that you buy because you may want to buy lower-sodium products.  Convenience foods are notorious for having too much sodium.

Hopefully the information presented here will help keep you staying and feeling as beautiful as possible.  If all else fails, you also may want to see your family doctor to see if there is another cause.

Cratejoy Subscription Box Marketplace–Five Unique Boxes to Explore (Review)

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Cratejoy

I am fascinated by subscription boxes because they are a fun way to shop and become acquainted with products.  When Cratejoy asked me to become one of their subscription box reviewers, how could a subscription box addict like me refuse such a tempting offer?  

With a company like Cratejoy Subscription Box Marketplace that has some 200 boxes, I knew the selection had to be good.  Inside my first shipment, I got five different types of subscriptions appealing to various interests.

Urban Organic Gardener was something I really loved.  This collection of goodies will help you eat healthier will the organic food that you’ll be able to grow.  Each month a subscriber gets five packets of pure 100% non-GMO garden seeds plus there is always a bonus gift included.  

Urban Organic Gardener (May 2015)

I got a packet of Kale (Red Russian) with 50 seeds, Dill (Bouquet) with 100 seeds, Tomatillo (Large Fruited) with 10 seeds, Kohlrabi (Purple Vienna) with 50 seeds, and a packet of Oregano (Greek) with 1,000 seeds. The bonus was something I had always wanted to experiment with 10 soil packs that you soak in warm water to start the seeds in for quicker growing.  This box starts at $10.  

If gardening is not your thing, then maybe art is.  Let me tell you about another monthly box that you may like called Sketch Box.  This one will bring you five to 10 different premium art supplies to help inspire your artistic creativity. 

Sketch Box (May 2015)

For example, I found a 12 pack of Koh-I-Noor Woodless Color Pencils that are nice for illustrating, a Kum magnesium sharpener for extra smooth sharpening, and a Prismacolor Premier trio kit of erasers along with a sample post card of art work using those products.  The cost of this subscription starts at $25.

Perhaps, you are more the outdoor type.  If so, you might like the BackpackerBox.  Each month you can get five to seven eco-friendly products to help heighten your hiking and camping fun with an estimated monthly value of at least $30.  Sign up for either a Classic or a Vegan Box subscription.

Backpacker Box (May 2015)

My BackpackerBox included a Vapur Runway Collapsible Bottle, Epic Bison, Bacon and Cranberry Bar, Granite Gear 5L Air Bag, and an Ultralight Backpackin’ Tips Falcon Guide.   The cost starts at $19.99 a month.   

Ladies, if the thought of dressing up is more appealing than trekking through the woods, then Cratejoy has you covered with a box like Cate & Chloe VIP.  This subscription brings you two pieces of jewelry and a bonus gift each month.  Each box has an estimated retail value of $200 according to Cate & Chloe.  

Cate & Chloe VIP Box (May 2015)

May 2015 brought me their Addison “Innovator” Bar Necklace.  This necklace is silver featuring a bar, hanging from its chain that you can wear alone or layer with other jewelry to style it up.  The second piece was an Emery “Brave” Bracelet.  This piece is a gold chain centered with an amber-like crystal.  As a bonus, I found a silver-toned patterned design Drew “Wise One” Ring, an adjustable fits all cuff ring.  This subscription starts at $32 a month.  

Calling all beer drinkers, I have something just for you.  Last of all, I got Cooler Can Monthly.  This is a subscription where you’ll be sent a unique new beer koozie every month from places you never heard of before.  I got a green Welcome to Weiner, Ar. The cost starts at $4.50 a month and includes free shipping.  

Cooler Can Monthly (May 2015)

If you hate to go out shopping and prefer doing it the easy way without traffic and crowds, you can’t go wrong by using your computer to buy.  Visit Cratejoy to find any of these and more.

*Disclaimer: Free product was provided to facilitate this review--not my opinion.* 

Recipe: Cozy Up With a Hearty Bowl of My Special Lentil Soup Because Snow Is Coming!

My Special Lentil Soup 

Though I love soups all year round, I think nothing warms you up more on a cold winter’s day than a bowl of piping, hot soup. The recipe that I have for you today is one of my favorites for a hearty and satisfying lentil soup that you will make a roux and thicken.  Unlike the typical seasonings for this bean soup, I gave it a unique flavor from an unexpected twist of basil that brings out maximum deliciousness.

If you’re trying to lose weight, this is a good low-calorie soup to make ahead of time and reheat later for lunches or serve along with dinner.

Dried legumes usually need to soak overnight before you cook them.  However, lentils cook up rather fast so just sort for any small rocks, then rinse and put them in pot with the water to cook until softened.

To make it even more filling, I add some type of noodle or elbow macaroni but it tastes just as good plain. For the days when I’m lazy or rushed, I will dump in some dried ready-made pasta.  However, I do prefer homemade noodles every time.  There is no comparison of the taste and quality of homemade to what you can buy.  

Here is the recipe for my homemade pasta dough that I always use that is quite easy, especially when you whip it up in your food processor.  If you haven’t tried to make your own dough yet, you truly are missing out something so extra delicious. It also saves you money when you figure out the cost compared to boxes of those commercial brands. 

I use a pasta machine that you attach to your table and crank by hand.  It really isn’t a lot work or very hard to do.  It takes me only about 30 minutes to finish and clean up when I make a batch (about five cups) for both soup and a pasta dinner.  

I don’t recommend the electronic models because they are extremely slow compared to the crank variety. My friend had one and hated it so much that she sold it at her garage sale before getting a manual one like mine.

By the way, I also have another wonderful lentil soup recipe that you might want to try as well that I shared at an earlier time.  This one is for red lentil vegetarian soup with a tomatoes and spinach that you should check out also.

I do hope you try these wonderful recipes because they are full of fiber, protein, and lots of vitamins and nutrients to keep you healthy and going.  


My Special Lentil Soup

6 cups of water
1 cup of dried lentils
1 medium onion
4 or 5 stalks of celery, diced
1 carrot, peeled and cut into small pieces
1/4 cup of olive oil
8 small potatoes or 5 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
1 teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon of dried basil leaves
½ cup of flour
1 cup of dried elbow macaroni or noodles 


Sort your lentils for small rocks because there is always a chance that you might find one. Rinse and then keep the lentils in water until the vegetables are prepared.  

Start with browning the onions and celery in the olive oil until golden before adding the carrots and potatoes to your pan.  

Continue cooking the vegetables for a few minutes and then take off of the heat and coat with the flour for your roux.

Add the coated vegetables and your seasonings to your water and waiting lentils and cook. Check periodically until the vegetables are soft as well as the lentils.

What I normally do is toward the end of the soup’s cooking time, I just throw in the dry macaroni or noodles and cook until the preferred degree of firmness.  On other days, I will make my homemade noodles, which I do boil first before adding some to the soup.  

Serve when the noodles or macaroni gets ready.  

ENJOY!

Some Great Tips to Keep Yourself Motivated When Dieting!

Trying to lose weight is never an easy task.  However, there are a few things that I have tried that definitely keeps you focused on your goal–instead of the refrigerator.  

Unless you feel sick, you may not feel health is enough of a dieting motivator.  In that case, your body image is often stronger.  What I found helps is to look at yourself naked and keep that picture with you in your mind when you feel that urge to cheat. 

Another helpful technique is cutting out  magazine pictures of bodies that you want to look like and attach them to your refrigerator door for inspiration.  You can always hang a photo of your clothed self next to those hard bodes as a reminder of what you are striving for.  I don’t know about you, but it curbs my hunger when I see those perfect bodies smiling from my refrigerator.  My hand just seems to move away from the refrigerator door automatically.

As you begin to lose weight, I found it helps to snap a new picture every week and add it to your refrigerator collage.  This positive change in your ever-changing body strengthens your resolve further every time you see new improvements that take you closer to your ideal body. 

This next tip that I am about to share with you may sound totally ridiculous, but I suggest you try it first before dismissing it.  Before your lunch or dinner, try brushing your teeth first.  You might be surprised at how that taste will affect your appetite so you eat less.  

 I hope you try these tips because they may help you too!

Are You Doing Enough to Solve the Problem of Cellulite?

Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post for Daring Beaute.

There are ways to manage the problem of cellulite.

No woman likes cellulite spoiling her figure.  However, if you suddenly noticed more of that dimpled, grapefruit-like skin when you squeezed a section of your thigh, then a variety of reasons could have contributed to it.

Think about your diet.  Perhaps, you changed your eating habits due to a busy schedule or stress and just grabbed something from a vending machine or slapped together a sandwich and filled up your hunger with a bag of greasy chips for instance because there was no time for a proper meal.  Then again, maybe you put yourself on a fad diet to lose weight and ate hardly enough that would satisfy your cat–let alone your body that needs balanced nutrition.  Both of these abrupt changes could also have something to do with seeing more.  

Winter keeps us indoors more and less active than during warmer weather.  Unless you’re a snow bunny, you probably are spending more time sitting watching television or whatever else you like to do when stuck in the house. So what else could be having something to do with the increase in cellulite is this new sedentary lifestyle. 

You can also blame a new cellulite sighting on female hormones, which love to play havoc also with fresh breakouts often at the same time.  

The important thing to remember is cellulite is a reoccurring condition.  To best manage it, you need to improve circulation to help flush out those trapped toxins and fats from your system and keep on doing it.  

Vigorous dry scrubbing on the cellulite helps stimulate the affected areas to get things moving and start the process.  Scrubs to draw the water through the connective tissue helps get rid of impurities like the homemade caffeine scrub I shared with you earlier is another.  

If you want something less messy and more convenient, you could also use cellulite creams that have active ingredients that can do the same thing to force the toxins and fats out.  A very effective cream is the one I am using from one of my sponsors, Daring Beaute with their Cellu Burner that came in their Luxury Slim Pack (an entire system I reviewed earlier that also comes with body brush, body massager and slimming leggings).  Helpful information on  cellulite is also available at their website as well.  Check it out!

*Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post for Daring Beaute.  A free product was also provided.*

Gorton’s #RealisticResolutionChallenge Review + ($75) Giveaway!–Ends January 26, 2015

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Gorton's

Most of the time, I try to be good about our diet.  We don’t eat beef these days, but more chicken and fish along with a lot of new dishes that use legumes.  Usually, it’s fruit for desserts except on the weekends when I bake a treat. Regardless, the holidays always get normal healthy eating off track.  Therefore, I couldn’t be happier when Gorton’s Seafood contacted me to get involved in their Gorton’s Realistic Resolution Challenge, their join effort with SparkPeople.

The idea behind this free online program is learning how to improve your diet with a healthier lifestyle through 30 days of fresh challenges as well as access to videos, recipes, a message forum where you can exchange info and ideas, and more to help better understand diet and nutrition while educating yourself in managing fitness and weight. 

Gorton's Realistic Resolution Challenge 

To start me off in the right direction, I received Gorton’s free product coupons for Grilled or Simply Bake products, an insulated tote bag to bring them home in, TheSparkPeople Cookbook, ( a collection of 160 delicious-sounding healthy recipes), The Spark book, (a 28-day plan for losing weight and transforming your life), and The SparkPeople 28-Day Boot Camp Workout DVD.

Gorton's Simply Bake Salmon Roasted Garlic & Butter

I choose the Simply Baked Salmon with Roasted Garlic and Butter that come with two  fillets per box. Preparation couldn’t be easier because these are in a foil bag that you pop into the oven for about ten minutes.  All else that I needed to do was prepare a vegetable and salad to have dinner on the table.  

I could have experimented with a recipe, but I really thought the way the salmon was prepared with the roasted garlic and butter was delicious.  Usually when I make salmon, I make it pretty much the same way.  I don’t fancy it up with any sauce that could interfere with its delectable true flavor.

Gorton's Simply Salmon Asparagus Pilaf

I plan to try the Simply Baked Haddock with Garlic Herb Butter for my next dinner.  It comes the same way with two fillets in those non-messy foil bags that you throw in the oven. 

I really liked how Gorton’s makes healthy eating easier than ever.  The salmon was 140 calories and loaded with 315mg of omega-3 fatty acids for heart health.  And if want additional recipes and inspiration to move your bad eating habits in a healthier direction, you should take advantage and join the free online 30 Day Realistic Resolution Challenge at SparkPeople because it will help.

To also give you a good running start, Gorton’s has a coupon available to help you save on your Simply Baked or Grilled Fish.  

Gorton's Simply Baked Haddock Garlic Herb Butter

Thanks to Gorton’s, you also have a chance to win two full-value product coupons, an insulated tote, the SparkPeople Cookbook, the Spark book, and the SparkPeople Boot Camp DVD ($75 total value)!

For extra fun, do enter Gorton's Eat Smarter Sweepstakes daily for a chance to win a $5,000 grand prize plus lots of other daily prizes!

*Disclaimer: Free products were provided to facilitate this review--not my opinion.*

Giveaway details and how to enter–

Prize: One (1) winner will receive two (2) full-value Gorton’s Seafood product coupons, an insulated tote bag, The SparkPeople Cookbook, The Spark book, and the SparkPeople 28 Day Boot Camp Workout DVD ($75 total value)!

Dates of entry: 01/09/15–01/25/15 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

Eligibility: Open to USA addresses.  No PO Boxes.  The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  


How to Enter:  Please use the Rafflecopter widget if it works.  You can also enter by clicking this link or try to enter using another browser. You can return daily and log in again with your email to tweet.

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