Happiness is a state of mind. This may seem childishly simple and extremely corny, but you have the freedom to choose to be happy. Some people stumble on the way to happiness and arrive there by accident. It helps to really want to be happy. Not at first that may sound foolish, who wouldn’t want to be happy? Believe it or not there are people who’ve been depressed, dejected and unhappy for so long they don’t know anything else and would something fantastic happen to them, they’d question it. Ever heard the saying “Misery loves Company”? Some people even feel guilty about their happiness as if they’re not entitled to it. You can’t rob anyone else of their share of euphoria there’s enough for everyone, all we have to do is let it in. Material things aren’t the key either, for sure they’ll make us feel better, but if you’re not pleased with yourself the bling, houses and dollars are just a cover up. A few months ago we became familiar with the phrase putting lipstick on a pig, that about sums it up.
When you open your eyes in the morning be grateful for all that you have. Even if it’s just that you opened your eyes. Look for things to be happy about and you’ll find them. Look for negativity and discontent and you’ll find that as well. With enough practice and thought happiness can be a habit just as natural as brushing your teeth. Take care and be well.
Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you have decided to look beyond the imperfections. Unknown Author
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o Training Tip - From Dread to Dynamic
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Think of your least favorite exercise; go ahead I’ll wait. If you said push-ups you’ll feel a kinship with the 39% of people who dread them also. That being said push-ups are one of the best all over moves around. Biceps, triceps, pecs, and delts all get a workout with that one easy move. I see you’re still not convinced so here’s an easier way. This move is just as effective at toning your arms, chest and back.
Lie faceup on a bench, holding a 3-5 lb dumbbells with arms bent, hands near chest and palms facing in. Then all you do is straighten your arms to press the weights up. Problem solved now let’s move on.
It’s time that I remind you that warmer weather will be here soon. Which means it’s time to get serious about your workout. The following suggestions are a bit intense, but I have confidence in you and I know you’re in it for the long haul, right?
3 days a week alternate between fast and slow intervals of the cardio activity of your choice. I could give you suggestions but it’s got to be one that you’ll enjoy or you won’t stick to it. Intervals increase your calorie burn without spending more time. It’s all about working smarter fitbuddies.
Resistance training 2 days a week. To get the toned and sleek look work multiple muscle groups at the same time. Nothing like a two-fer. Think bicep curls and squats. Combine a shoulder press with alternating lunges. Lateral leg lifts and triceps kickbacks. Simultaneous upper ab crunch and reverse ab curl. I’m sweating just thinking about it.
Set aside one day a week to cross train. After about six weeks your body gets used to whatever you’re doing and stops responding. Adding cross training from the beginning of your plan helps to avoid the plateau. This also helps to keep you motivated and reduces the risk of injury.
3-5 lb hand weights, a chair, resistance band, a decent pair of tennis shoes and the will to succeed are pretty much all you need. If you need some more ideas on toning multiple muscle groups or cross-training let me know. I can be reached at:
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o What’s On Your Plate- Bland or Bam?
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What’s soft, chewy, kind of has a meaty texture, doesn’t have a pronounced taste, can lower your cholesterol and improve your heart health overall? Mushrooms! An analysis of the chemical compounds showed that mushrooms are full of dietary fiber, which most of us don’t get enough of. But wait there’s more! Mushrooms also contain a healthy dose of the antioxidant Lergothioneine. Don’t worry I’ve never heard of it either, but if it helps, it’s all good. The most common variety is the White Button and contains more than 12 times the antioxidants of wheat germ. There are three different types of button mushrooms-white mushrooms, crimini and portabello. The white mushroom is the most common type and is actually cream colored. The crimini mushroom, which looks just like the button but is coffee colored, actually has a more distinctive flavor. The portabello mushroom is actually an overgrown crimini. It’s much larger, has a meatier flavor and is favored as a vegetarian entrée.
Bet you Can’t Say Cruciferous 5 Times Fast
When you think of gourmet treats chances are you don’t think of cauliflower. It may rank on your list of “yucky veggies” right along with mushrooms. Cauliflower is a member of the same family of cruciferous vegetables as broccoli, that are known for it’s health benefits. Eating cauliflower regularly could also provide women that have been diagnosed with breast cancer another tool to fight it. Cruciferous vegetables contain compounds that increase the liver's ability to neutralize potentially toxic substances. If these substances aren’t properly detoxified in the liver, they can damage cell membranes and start a chain reaction that may eventually lead to uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. Cauliflower anyone?
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o Recipe Corner - Crimini Mushroom Saute¢
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Ready to change your mind about mushrooms? This recipe can be a side dish or used as a sauce for meat, poultry and some types of fish. Other than the health benefits, it’s super easy to prepare. Enjoy!
2 cups fresh crimini mushrooms, thickly sliced
2 TBS chicken or vegetable broth
1 TBS fresh ginger, minced
2 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 cups scallions, coarsely chopped
Simmer ginger, garlic, mushrooms, and scallion in broth for about 3 minutes on medium high heat. Season with soy sauce, salt and pepper. Go forth and eat!
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o Think About This - What is Acupuncture? By Elyse C. Joseph
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Acupuncture is basically one type of Chinese treatment wherein fine needles are being inserted into certain parts of the body to eliminate and relieve certain types of pain or for other therapeutic purposes. Although acupuncture looks scary and painful at first glance, it is equally important for you to know that it actually isn't. Even though you can experience minimal pain with every insertion of the fine needle, you can definitely be assured that you will be relieved from the pain that's been tying you down.
Acupuncture is a type of treatment that originated from China and has since then grown to become popular and widely used up to the present. There are several different types of acupuncture which you can take on and these range from Classical Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan, Vietnamese and Korean acupunctures. Each type of acupuncture boasts of a different focus and benefit to its patients although the process is almost the same.
You can find several different acupuncturists in your area but it is of course very important for you to take note who among them are licensed and who are more there are authorized to help treat and relieve your from certain types of pain that you are experiencing. Not everyone could be treated through acupuncture. A licensed acupuncturist would first and foremost evaluate the patient through questioning and interrogation to know whether he or she could be subjected to such type of treatment. This is done to make sure that there could be nothing wrong with the treatment and the process in general.
