Hello Monday, Hello Scale

The start of a new week. I decided to weigh myself before work. I felt like Bridget Jones, you know? Anyway, I've set a goal for a 2 pound loss this week. Let's see how it goes.

It's funny how the way you feel about yourself can change once you stand on a scale. You can feel pretty good, stand on a scale and then feel rotten when you see the numbers. We're so much more than a number on a scale, aren't we? I say we should ban scales from our lives and only stand on it 3 days after our period every month. That's when I feel skinniest, anyway, don't you? Okay, maybe that's just me.

This will be a busy week, with my focus on researching green tea. I drink it all the time and love it. Here's an article I wrote on it for work. Who knew it was so good for you, right?

Green Tea Demystified

What is the most popular drink worldwide? Why water of course! But, what is the second-most popular drink around our globe?

The answer, not quite so easy, is Green Tea … a beverage enjoyed by Asians for thousands of years. Back then, Green Tea was drunk, not only for its light taste but also as preventative medicine against cancer risk. Now, thousands from other countries are sipping Green Tea for the very same reasons, along with many others:

 Increased fat & calorie burning
 Lowering “bad” cholesterol levels
 Decreasing blood pressure
 Reduced risk of heart attack and/or threat of heart failure
 Lowering of anxiety levels
 Calming of upset stomachs
 Healing of gum disease and liver injuries


To gain these plentiful benefits, you will have to sip more than one cup of Green Tea per day. Experts recommend three to four cups is ample … that’s one cup with every meal. Should you not have the time or wish your Green Tea in a completely different manner, many grocers and health food storeowners stock chilled Green Tea. Pick up a refreshing bottle or can and take it with you. Mix in Green Tea leaves with your ice cream for dessert or bake a handful of those leaves in with a loaf of bread for added interest and variety. You can ever find Green Tea chewing gum offered through some retailers.

While Green Tea may never surpass water in goodness and popularity, it ranks highly as a favorite beverage for many good reasons – among these good taste, good nutrition and good health!

Copyright © 2006-2009 Curb Your Cravings LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide

So that's my Monday! A new start, a cup of tea and a rather amusing coworker at a desk by me who is drinking a smoothie....more on her another day....

Sarah

Partying and Dieting - the real weekend challenge

Look, I'm in my 20's and I like to go out with my friends on the weekend. Am I that different than anyone else? No. And what can I say, my favorite lounge makes these amazing kobe beef sliders, which are mini-burgers. I'm not lying when I say I could eat 6 of them. I'm not lying when I say I did, too! Went out on Friday night and had a great time, eating, having a few cocktails and laughing. After a week at my keyboard it was fun to finally break free. It was a fun night, with a lot of dancing. I figure, if you dance until your hair is wet, you KNOW you must have burned off a lot of calories, right? Well, get this...I did an article recently that really did say that most people over-estimate how many calories they burn off by activities like exercise, workouts, and dancing.

I've come to the conclusion that I need to start using the pink patch. I did try it, afterall, we do sell it and I write about it, and it works like a charm. But starting tomorrow, I'm back to using it. I need to control my appetite and get some control back. I wonder what my boss will say when I tell him that I'm using it? He's pretty funny. I'm sure he'll say "What, like this is some kind of surprise? What did you THINK they were for?" Hahaha!

Hey, if any of you are using the patch, post a message and tell me, ok? I could use a few partners in diet crime here!

Sarah

Making the start of a new you

So this morning I woke up so comfortable, I did NOT want to get out of bed. Ever have one of those mornings? As I lay there, hitting the snooze button over and over, I kept thinking about my breakfast. Honestly, I need to win the lottery and have someone make me breakfast every morning. Anyway, so there I am, thinking about breakfast. I do take my multivitamins everyday now, and yes, I admit it, I get them from work. They're the bio-nutrient UltraVita multi's. I'm actually proud of myself for doing that, becuase for the longest time I kept buying vitamins and NOT taking them. Like what, did I think I'd absorb them from across the room? Hahaha.

So breakfast...

I got up and walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. What to eat? I bought some flax muffins and they do say flax is good for you. In fact, let me dig up a piece of an article I wrote on Flax called "Just the Flax Ma'am"

Both the seeds and the oil from the flax plant promote better health. Studies show flax users benefit from lower cholesterol levels, reduced blood pressure and a decreased chance of dangerous plaque build-up in arteries. With flax containing lignan (a fiber-fighting antioxidant), you may also decrease your risk of cancer (of many types including colon, prostate, breast and skin cancers).

So what did I do? I had my low-fat flax muffin and headed off to work. I did something good for my body today!

So dear reader...did you do something good for your body today? Tell me what you did!

Introducing ME! How are you doing?

Hey everyone! My name is Sarah, and I'm an editor with Ardis Health, the makers of Curb Your Cravings and bio-nutrient products. I've been thinking about putting myself out here and getting to know everyone a bit more. This is such an interesting time in my life. I'm working at this cool place with people who really truly care about the health and wellness of everyone around them. It's really inspiring, you know?

So while I've been put in charge of putting this blog together, I'm also hoping everyone can get to know me. I'm doing my best to improve my own health, eat better and help my family start to make better choices, too. I'm only in my 20's, so now is a great time to start looking after myself.

I'll do my best to share resources, share information and let you all know what's going on with my job. Maybe even share some juicy gossip!

Let me tell you a little about my typical day. I used to skip breakfast everyday because I had to rush to work. Now, I get up around 6:30am and have some yogurt and fruit that I put together last night. I hop the train to work and sure, I still have my cup of coffee to go, but now I've stopped putting sugar in it. It's a step, right? I get to work, check my emails and start my day, usually reviewing articles, writing a few things, heading to meetings. Lunch used to be fast-food, but now I'm making the choice to bring my lunch in with me. Usually a sandwich on sprouted wheat bread with some juice. I can't believe how much money I'm saving, too! If I have time I go outside for a few minutes, just for some fresh air. It might mean just walking down the block and back, but it's something. When I'm off work, I head home and go for a walk right away. Then I come in, make some dinner and sit down and read a bit. So as you can see, while I live this life of an editor, I'm just like you!

So hey, I'd like to know who's reading this, so if you have a moment, why not just leave me a message or reply to this okay?

Sarah Knowles

Losing Weight the Mediterranean way

How do they DO it? Residents of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea typically consume a diet that is high in fat, but they are slimmer than their American counterparts. What is more, they generally live longer and have a lower risk of heart disease and cancer. No, they’re not necessarily genetically-blessed, because there are scientific reasons why the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest meal plans in the world.

One of the secrets of living a longer and healthier life is the olive oil that is an integral part of most Mediterranean dishes. You might think that this oil high in fat, and you’re definitely right. The catch is that olive oil, and the other fatty foods that typify the region, are monounsaturated fats. Unlike the saturated fats that included in the artery-clogging junk foods that Americans love to chow down on, monounsaturated fats are actually healthy for your heart and may play an important role in preventing certain types of cancer.

Here’s the skinny: it’s not just olive oil that helps you slim. There is no one “magical food” that will ward off the pounds, it’s the entire Mediterranean approach to eating that helps keep them svelte and fit. Their diet is typically heavy on the fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and fish. Compared to the average American meal that is often laden with meats and cheeses that are high in fat and cholesterol, it’s no wonder that they’re healthier.

For example, the average person in Greece eats twice as many vegetables as the average American. So, the best bet for a healthier meal is to go Greek— stock up on the veggies and treat yourself to a glass of red wine with dinner, which is loaded with cancer-fighting antioxidants. What else can you do? Here are some other suggestions:

•Fish is also a great alternative to fatty meats, which is similarly high in protein, but low in unhealthy fats.
•Use olive oil instead of other salad dressings that are high in calories. Throw in some bits of feta cheese to a bag of mixed greens and you’ve got a healthy Greek salad.
•Have a sugar craving? For a sweet and nutritious dessert, try some baked apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.
•When buying bread products, steer clear of the processed white flours and look for the whole grains. Those darker breads contain more nutrients and give your body lots more energy than their whole-wheat counterparts.
•If you need a quick pick-me-up, have a handful of almonds with some dried fruit.

Of course, you can get too much of a good thing. Even though nuts and olive oil contain healthy fats, they are both high in calories. The key to any successful weight-loss plan is portion control, portion control, and portion control. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with your food! Mediterranean eating is delicious and pleasurable, as well as being amazingly healthy! So eat up!

While you're at it, get yourself some Omega-3 supplements and take them everyday for best health results at any age!

Do Diet Patches Really Work?

There are convenience stores, open 24 hours and seven days a week for your shopping needs. There is convenience banking where you can deposit and withdraw money through the ATM at all hours of the day and night. There are convenience foods, ready in just a few minutes and perfect after a busy day. Now, there is convenience dieting.

The concept evolves around the diet patch – a topical patch which can be applied directly to the body. The diet patch is similar to the nicotine patch which helps smokers kick the habit, but how can the diet patch benefit you?

•Controls hunger cravings, stimulates metabolism and eliminates toxins.

•Applies easily to your skin. Attach one patch in the morning and forget about it for the rest of your day.

•Reduces the need for rigid calorie-counting.

•Decreases appetite. Those using the diet patch have found they consume 45 – 55% fewer calories on a daily basis. That’s approximately 1000 less calories that end up on your hips.

•Absorbed by your body easily. The herbs often contained in these patches – including hoodia, guarana, garcinia cambogia, chromium and fucus vesiculosus – are gently soaked up into your body without side effects.

•Saves time. Spend more quality hours with your family and friends rather than in your own kitchen.

•Trains your to eat less and make better food choices – which results in helping you keep the weight off for good.

As with any weight loss program, be mindful that these require due diligence and time on your part. It may take up to 72hrs for the effects to kick in. By using a diet patch to control your hunger dieters are able to focus on better food choices, avoid over eating yet still eat their favorite foods and naturally lose weight.

Copyright © 2006-2009 Curb Your Cravings LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Sleeping Better Will Help You Lose Weight

A study at the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the Obesity Research Center has discovered a link between the number of hours we sleep and our weight. A hormone called leptin, which suppresses appetite, is actually lowered when you sleep less. In contrast, grehlin, an appetite that increases food cravings and intake is actually raised when you suffer from sleep deprivation. Proper sleep habits bring these hormones into balance and, as a result, help you control your weight

For a safe, natural sleep product, try Dream8hrs!