As I finished watching the latest David So comedy video, Which is another talented young man I will touch on later, I was taken to a link of a video by Paul Kim called "You had your chance". As a music lover I am always searching for new sounds and I love being introduced to music outside of the cookie cutter main stream stuff we see on television daily. I did not know what to expect to hear from this handsome Asian cutie but I was definitely in for a great surprise. As he opened his mouth and let the first lyrics roll off his tongue "Hello there baby" he instantly erased all stereo types that people tend to pin on artist. His voice had so much soul and I couldn't understand why this song wasn't blasting from every radio station. The video itself was a very fun and well put together production that could easily be viewed on MTV or BET. As the video ended it left me wanting to hear more from this young man, so I looked him up on youtube and my love of Paul Kim began. As a watched video after video I was drawn in by the variety of sounds from the soulful sound of "You had your chance" to the upbeat "outta my head. I have quite of few of Paul Kim tunes in rotation on my ipod and each one leaves me with a different lesson to learn. Paul Kim not only make his own original music but is also well known for covering some of our favorite artist. I think it's time for a Asian superstar to take this world by storm and Paul Kim is well on his way.
Recently Paul Kim and David So started a tee shirt line called "Go for Broke". There are three shirt designs that are bold and eye catching. To check out their tee shirt line simply click on the picture link below.
Here are some Paul Kim videos to enjoy. Step outside the box of mainstream music and show some support.
It can be very easy to fall victim to negative energy. I mean face it, we live in a society where video taping fights and laughing at others pain have become entertainment for many. We sometimes feel it necessary to defend and explain ourselves to others, which can bring out a very ugly side of us. It's not easy always turning the other cheek and when you're exposed to negative comments and behavior being the norm, you can easily become a part of the crowd. I have had moments where I have laughed at, shared and made insensitive comments that only contributed to someone else pain. I think we all have play a role in a situation where we could have done better. Although it's not always easy to stay positive, once you began that positive journey you will have a totally different outlook on life altogether. Things that use to make you very angry will now seem small and unimportant to you. Vulgar language and violent behavior will no longer be entertaining for you. You will began to feel more peaceful and less angry as time go on. I'm not saying that this journey for peace will be easy, in fact it will be extremely difficult especially during moments when you feel hurt, betrayed or angry. These will be the most trying and difficult times and you will feel like abandoning this positive attitude and replacing it with a negative reaction that will only give you temporary gratification. One thing that helped me was a prayer/well wishes jar. I would place my prayers, positive thoughts, personal pains and well wishes into this jar. Once the jar is full I would read all the slips and see just how positive I was or just how negative I was. If I had more negative moments than positive I would set a goal to do better. No, you will not change over night but taking a step in the right direction is a start. For the next 30 days try this method. At the end of the 30 days review your thoughts and see if your positive out weigh your negative. If you had more negative thoughts, do another 30 days and try to do better. Let me know your thoughts by commenting below :)
The New Year is approaching soon and along with the new year comes New Year Resolutions. This is when we swear we will eat better, stop smoking, get a better job, travel, and have a better life. Often we start off very motivated, then two weeks later we fall back into old habits. We really do mean well when we make our resolutions but as the saying go "Out of sight, out of mind". Instead of allowing it to slip out of our sights, this year we are going to put it in our face where we can see it daily staring at us and daring us to fall off course. We will create a visual photo collage of all our goals that will force us to look at the things we swore to do and motivate us to accomplish them. This is called "A Vision Board". A vision board is a collage of photos of things you would like to change or a accomplish in your life. You may have pictures of the car you always wanted, the house you want to buy, the body you aim to have, or the financial goals you would like to meet. You can use a large picture frame, peg board, poster board or scrap book to create you collage of goals. After you have built your guide to success place it in a spot that you will have to look at it daily, allowing it to remind you to do something each day to accomplish those goals. By putting your goals in your face daily, your chances of completing them are far greater than if you write them on a piece of paper that will be placed in your nightstand and forgotten about. When I made my Vision Board last year I accomplished 75% of the things on my list. I upgraded my camera, purchased new lighting, met my natural hair goal, have a healthy diet and exercised more just to name a few things. Whenever I felt unmotivated , I looked at this board and felt determined that I would accomplished as many things on this list as I could. Now I have a whole new list of accomplishments I need to complete and it's time for a new board. Here is a list of items you will need to create your board.
Peg board, poster board or scrapbook
lots of old magazines
scissors
tape, glue or thumb tacks
A list of goals
Write down your list of personal goals. These goals should include all things you would like to complete by the end of the year, whether it be big (I want to stop smoking) or small (I would like to spend more time with family). Search through your magazines looking for photos that represent the goals you want to complete. Cut the photos out and began to place them securely onto your board using you tape, glue or thumb tacks. Hang your vision board in a place where you will see it daily more than once. Each day do something to work towards completing your goal no matter how small it may be. New Years resolutions are great and by making them in a more visual form, we will be well on our way to becoming better each day. Last year my friends and I had a vision Board gathering. With great food and drinks, we sat around sharing our goals and helping each other create beautiful boards. This is definitely a great activity for a ladies night. Take a photos of your board and email it to Audreyhughesfotos@gmail.com and I will post it up or all to see.
Now a days our childrens' minds have been taken over by ps4, xbox, ipads, laptops, Disney channel, Nicklodeon and Cartoon Network. With an unlimited amount of wi fi and non stop cable, physical activity have become non existent. Remember when we as children hated staying in the house? We felt suffocated longing for the sun to hit our face and our sneakers to hit the pavement. Whether we went roller skating, went bike riding, played jacks, its, or hopskotch, we played until the sun went down and the street lights came on. The painful sound of our parents calling us in the house brought tears to our eyes and made our hearts long for the next day to come. Saturdays were the best. Who doesn't remember Saturday morning cartoons followed by our favorite karate flicks? After the karate flick, our next step was always to knock on our friends doors and then the real fun began. Oh my how times have changed. Our children don't know anything about how Miss Mary Mack was dressed in black, What little Sally Walker did when she stopped in front of me or how Miss Lucy had a baby named Tiny Tim. They are clueless about how their moms shoe could be turn into a great game of hot butter bean. Their creativity won't allow them to see how one ball can be three different games like foursquares, dodgeball or kick ball. Their imagination won't allow them to play alone with Jacks, bat and ball, jump rope or hula hoop and have a total blast. I honestly blame us as parents for not passing these wonderful memories down to our children. There is nothing wrong with video games or television but when it take over things that not only help our children stay fit but also help them use their creative side, then we have a problem. Parents I challenge you to take 1 hour out of your day and bring back your childhood memories with your kids. I would love for you to take pictures so that I can post them on my Back in the day wall. Send all photos to Audreyhughesfotos@gmail.com and lets make a movement to keep these memories going so that our children can pass these same memories down to their children!
Here are a list of games that I remember. If you have more to add please comment below.
On December 1, 2013 I decided to kick start my December fitness challenge off right by doing a Fruits and Vegetables Detox. My body truly needed this break. I was feeling tired, bloated, and fatigued. This left me unmotivated and unproductive. This was not an easy journey and I didn't want my subscribers to think I went through this journey smoothly. I decided to do an update and answer the question I'm sure many of you wanted to know, DID I CHEAT? The answer is YES, however I never allowed that to completely stop my journey. I simply noted my mistake and continued my journey. My body was telling me it needed this break and I was determined to listen to it. But child, let me tell ya, the first two days were torture. I'm gonna take you through my journey and tell you the good, the bad and the UGLY....lol!
Day 1 my morning started off great. I had been grocery shopping the day before, so I was fully prepared for this journey. Full of motivation and determination, I started my journey with a green smoothie. I used a 32 ounce mason jar to pour and drink my smoothie. This allowed me to drink a little at a time and store the remainder in a air tight jar for later. Although I loved the taste, I was not fond of the texture. I chose not to juice my fruits and vegetables because I wanted to feel full and I did not think the juice alone would stop my hunger pains. For lunch I chose to have a large fruit salad that was absolutely Delicious. So far so Good. Okay here comes the ugly part. My motivation was on a all time high. I had been snacking on fruits and vegetables all day and had become confident that I would sail through this journey without a hitch, WRONG! As I sat in my room reading a book, my nose was filled with the wonderful smell of fry chicken and it was coming from MY kitchen. Oh my how I tried to ignore this amazing smell but I was slowly being defeated by it. This was my first cheat :(. I had cheated on my detox the very first day with two delicious fried chicken wings and the guilt overwhelmed me. Was I really this undisciplined? I couldn't be. I made myself a spinach salad with strawberries, cucumbers, and walnuts and began to reevaluate my strategy. As I moved forward with my goal I needed to make a few small changes to insure the remainder of my journey would be successful. One of those changes was to drink more than my 8 glasses of water a day. This one change helpe me fill full most of the day. The next change was to eat Oatmeal with honey and fresh fruit in the morning. Although Oatmeal is not a fruit or vegetable, it is a healthy breakfast that will keep me full for a good part of the day. My last change was to find great veggie recipes. I found recipes that require little to no OVOO and that needed to be steamed or sauteed. By making my meals delicious, I was no longer bothered by the food my family cooked.
Days 2-3 I remained focused on my goals despite the hunger pains. Although I did feel full, I did not feel satisified. No matter how much I ate or how focused I tried to be, food was all I could think about. I thought about cheating a few times but I quickly dismissed those thoughts when I started to feel and see the rewards of my detox. In three days the bloating was gone. I began to feel more energized and my motivation to exercise had returned. This gave me the boost I needed to continue for the next two days. I was now anxious to see my final results.
Day 4-5 was the easiest. Since I was coming to the end of my journey, I no longer felt the hunger pains or temptation to eat those foods I once craved. The few blemishes on my skin had cleared up completely and my skin had a beautiful even tone. I no longer had a muffin top and I was able to fit jeans one size smaller than my normal size. I guess that was the benefit of losing the bloat in my belly. I felt great but most of all I felt accomplished. I was able to give up all the foods I love (bread, sugar, meat, dairy, pasta and rice) for 5 days. Yes, I made a few mistakes but I got back on track and moved forward. I benefited so much from this detox that I decided that I will do it one day a week from this point on. Do you want to try this detox? Check out the links below for recipes on detox smoothies, juices and vegan meals. Also check out some tips on how to get started by clicking this link Fruits and Vegetable Detox. Comment and let me know your thoughts. Remember you are human so you may make mistakes. Simply note your mistakes and move forward.
No matter what length or texture your hair may be, learn how to love and embrace it. Beautiful hair is not defined by how straight, long or wavy it is. Beautiful hair is healthy and well kept. For years women of color have been subject to societies idea that our kinky curls are not beautiful. We go through extreme lengths to conform to what America deems as beautiful. We continually subject ourselves to relaxers, bleaching, tight weaves and other unhealthy procedures because it has become normal for us. Many of us had our first perm installed before our teenage years, making it a routine for us. We weren't taught how to properly care for our natural tress, so we find it difficult to do. Thanks to many celebrities who have embrace their natural hair such as Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Scott and Solange to name a few, many women are feeling more comfortable with embracing their natural hair. With the many youtube Vloggers such as Taren Guy, Nikkimae, and Beautiful brown baby, teaching women how to care for their natural textures, many women are becoming more comfortable styling their new kinky texture. Whether you decide to do the Big Chop or transition into becoming natural, there are many videos, blogs and websites to help you on your new journey.
If you are considering going natural here are a few tips to get you started.
Do your research: Look up natural blogs or Vlogs (youtube videos). There are many blogs on and vlogs on natural hair care that can help you chose which route you want to go.
Before you do the Big Chop: Seek professional assistance. Getting your hair cut professionally can not only help to have all damaged hair removed but it can also leave you with a beautiful curly haircut you will adore.
Your hair type: When following someone on youtube, look for someone with a hair type similar to yours. If you are following someone who has a different hair type, chances are the products they use will NOT work for you. Different hair types call for different products.
Expensive does not mean better: When I first did the Big Chop I thought that buying the most expensive products meant that the product was the best. This is not always true. In the beginning I purchased Miss Jessies and Carols Daughter. These products did a great job but so did Shea Moisture at a third of the cost!
Nourishing inside and out: Drinking water is essential to healthy hair, skin and nails. If you are constantly moisturizing your hair and wondering why it is still feel dry, you may want to look into your water intake. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water play a big part in healthy hair.
Moisturizing: Natural hair tends to need more moisture than relaxed hair. Keeping your hair moisturized is the key to maintaining healthy hair. After you wash and condition your hair, it is important to moisturize and seal in the moisture with your favorite oil such as olive oil, grape seed oil or coconut oil.
Those are a few tips to help you get started on your natural journey. For more great tips visit Ten easy tips for going natural
A young lady by the name of April Simms has been motivating people for years, but her newest movement, the $100 a thousand times have many people listening. It's has never been put so simple! $100 one thousand times = $100,000. It doesn't seem impossible when put so simply. This is a movement that will take patience, sacrifices, discipline, and budgeting but the end results will be well worth it. Want to learn more about her movement? Follow her on instagram: Aprildivahstyles. You can also learn how to purchase the 100K T-shirt.
My
December fitness challenge officially starts tomorrow and what better way to
kick it off then to detox for the first 5 days. Although I eat fairly healthy,
I do have my little slip ups. Shhhhhhhh! That’s between you and I lol. Eating processed foods, refined sugar,
meat and dairy can be hard and stressful on the body. Our kidneys and liver have
to work extra hard to get rid of the toxins we expose them to on a daily bases.
Fruits and vegetables keep you healthy and aid in
the detoxification process, which rids the body of toxins and impurities.A fruit and vegetable detox is also a great way to cleanse and rejuvenate the body.
Have you been feeling, tired,
groggy, irritable, or having trouble losing weight? Are you not having a bowel
movement atleast twice a day? Are you feeling bloated, have dark urine or just
need a boost of energy? If you answered yes to any of these, then this detox
may be for you!
There are great benefits from doing a fruit and vegetable detox. You will see a difference in your skin, hair and nails. You will began to feel more energized and less tired. You will shed pounds and be less bloated, but most of all you will have given your body a well deserved break! I plan to do my detox for 5 days and if I'm not feeling to hungry maybe 7 days. I will be using a combination of green juices, fruit smoothies and veggie and fruit salads. I will also keep a journal on my detox journey and update you guys on exactly what I ate and whether I made it through the 5 days without cheating. Yes, I plan on tell you the truth and nothing but the truth good or bad. Join me on my fitness journey :)
Many people do not truly understand the importance of drinking water. Even more people don't realize just how much damage sodas do to their bodies. Did you know that 2/3 of your body consists of water and is the main component of the body? Water helps our organs to absorb nutrients better. It regulates out body temperature and detoxifies. Water moisturizes the air in our lungs and our joints. When you don't drink enough water it can cause you to feel fatigued, be dehydrated, get migraines, have kidney problems, muscle cramps and constipation. It can also cause dry skin and hair. A few signs that you need more water are DARK URINE, DRY SKIN, THIRST, HUNGER AND FATIGUE. You should drink atleast 8-10 GLASSES of water a day. A great way to make sure you drink atleast 8 glasses of water is to drink a glass in the morning, a glass before and after each meal and a glass before you go to bed.
Some people drink soft drinks more than they drink water. Some people don't drink water at all. Sure. soft drinks may taste better than water but they do not provide your body with any nutrients. Although soft drinks do contain water, they also contain toxins that do serious damage to your body. Sodas have a large amount of sugar, calories and additives that hold no nutritional value. Drinking sodas can cause obesity, tooth decay and heart disease. Because of the sugar in sodas your thirst will not be quenched, therefore causing you to drink more soda and consume more sugar and calories. Some of the harmful ingredients in sodas are PHOSPHORIC ACID, ASPARTAME, SUGAR, and CAFFEINE.
For more information on how these ingredients affect your body visit http://www.oleda.com/oleda_tips/tips.asp?dept=48 If you are not convinced that soda is bad for your body please read 20 Practical uses for coke.
20 Practical Uses For Coke
Coke acts as an acidic cleaner. The amount of acid in soda is enough to wear away at the enamel of your teeth, making them more susceptible to decay. In tests done on the acidity levels of soda, certain ones were found to have PH levels as low as 2.5. To put that into perspective, consider that battery acid has a pH of 1 and pure water has a pH of 7.
To prove Coke does not belong in the human body, here are 20 practical ways you can use Coke as a domestic cleaner:
Removes grease stains from clothing and fabric
Removes rust; methods include using fabric dipped in Coke, a sponge or even aluminum foil. Also loosens rusty bolts
Removes blood stains from clothing and fabric.
Cleans oil stains from a garage floor; let the stain soak, hose off.
Kills slugs and snails; the acids kills them.
Cleans burnt pans; let the pan soak in the Coke, then rinse.
Descales a kettle (same method as with burnt pans)
Cleans car battery terminals by pouring a small amount of Coke over each one.
Cleans your engine; Coke distributors have been using this technique for decades.
Makes pennies shine; soaking old pennies in Coke will remove the tarnish.
Cleans tile grout; pour onto kitchen floor, leave for a few minutes, wipe up.
Dissolves a tooth; Use a sealed container…takes a while but it does work.
Removes gum from hair; dip into a small bowl of Coke, leave a few minutes. Gum will wipe off.
Removes stains from vitreous china.
Got a dirty pool? Adding two 2-liter bottles of Coke clears up rust.
You can remove (or fade) dye from hair by pouring diet Coke over it.
Remove marker stains from carpet. Applying Coke, scrubbing and then clean with soapy water will remove marker stains.
Cleans a toilet; pour around bowl, leave for a while, flush clean.
Coke and aluminum foil will bring Chrome to a high shine.
Strips paint off metal furniture. Soak a towel in Coke and lay it on the paint surface.
Now can you imagine what is does to your stomach lining?
Who needs the ‘household and cleaning’ section at the hardware store when we have Coke.
Disclaimer: The following information on Coke was gather from the below website. I reposted the 20 practical uses of coke onto my website to share with my readers. I am in no way claiming to be the originator of this information.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE MAKE UP ARTIST Born in Jamaica, raised in New York and recently relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, Cerra Bellum has set out to change the Make Up game and there is no stopping her. Most people would have stayed in the Big Apple but Miss Bellum is not your average lady. Determined to stand out from the rest, she's catching the eyes of many other make up artist who dare to mimic her. She's constantly ahead of the game and just when they thought they mastered her technique she's already on to the next one. Constantly educating and challenging herself, I see big things in her future. She has been my Make Up Artist for the past two years and I don't see that changing. Check out some her beautiful work.
CERRA BELLUM LIP ART (All lip art is hand painted). It is smudge proof, so you are able to speak while wearing it. To view more of Cerra Bellum portfolio follow her on Instagram @Cerra10. For inquiries on her prices and availability of her services, please email her at Cerra.Bellum@yahoo.com
Detox baths have been known as great a way to sooth aching bodies, remove toxins, sweat out the common cold and leave you feeling relaxed. Everyday we breath in these toxins and we accumulate heavy metals in our bodies through cigarette smoke, paints, vaccinations, and drinking water just to name a few things. These toxins often leave us with fatigued, bad breath, aching body, nausea and much more. Here are a few detox baths that will help you detox and be on your way to feeling more relaxed and soothed. Here are four of my favorites
SALT DETOX BATH: RELAXATION
Sea salts baths are the most common detox baths. Sea salts have been use for centuries for health, beauty and healing. Sea salts improve the condition of everything from your heart to your skin. Sea salts, when combined with warm water, help open up the pores while plumping up the skin just a bit, giving you a healthy and youthful glow.
1/3 Cups Epsom salts
1/3 Cups sea salt
1/3 Cups baking soda
2 1/2 tsp ground ginger
Epsom salts:helps make you sweat, reduces inflammation and relieves muscle aches
Sea salt: helps remove toxins and soothes open sores or blemishes
Baking soda: highly alkaline, helps balance an overly acidic system, helps eliminate chlorine in the water, softens water and skin
Ground ginger: increases circulation, opens pores, makes you sweat
Pour all ingredients in a tub of hot water and soak for 30 minutes.
HYDRO PEROXIDE DETOX BATH: NATURAL REMEDY FOR COMMON COLD
With the winter cold comes the winter COLD! You know what I'm talking about, the sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, coughing and aching body. Before you run out and spend big bucks on Nyquil, cough drops and tissue, try this soothing detox bath. Within 5-10 minutes of soaking in this hot soothing bath you will begin to sweat your cold out. You will feel more relaxed and soothed.
3 pints of hydro peroxide 3%
2 tsp of ground ginger
Hydro Peroxide: This oxygenates the body and helps purge toxins. It's also antibacterial and antiviral.
Ginger: a natural anti-inflammatory that increases blood circulation and helps promote the elimination of toxins through sweat.
Soak for 30 minutes and drink lots of water before and after this bath. Get a good nights sleep and should wake up with more energy and less achy. If you your symptoms have not completely left, repeat this bath for up too 3 days.
BENTONITE CLAY DETOX BATH: REMOVING HEAVY METALS
The bentonite clay lowers body's PH levels, making it a perfect substance to take internally or use externally. Bentonite Clay magnetically pulls toxins, heavy metals and waste from the body. Here are a few ways we consume this heavy metals on a regular bases
Drinking water
Eating non-organic produce
Taking antibiotics
Pesticides, herbicides, insecticides sprayed on lawns, gardens, in homes, etc.
Cigarette smoke
Paints
Vaccinations
Mercury dental fillings (high levels of mercury are released in the body every time you chew)
Pharmaceutical drugs
Skin-tightening creams
Antiseptic creams
Some ointments
Using aluminum cookware
Using foil when baking
Using antiperspirant deodorants
This bath is a fairly simple one. Add 1 to 2 pounds (I recommend 2 pounds) of Bentonite clay to your hot bath. Soak for 30 minutes. Be sure to take pieces of the clay that may be floating in the water and rub it all over your body. Please note that the clay will not go down the drain with the water. You will need a wash rag to remove the clay from the bathtub. The bath with also leave you feeling very relaxed so be sure to have a few hours to spare after your bath. It is recommended that you take this bath once a week for the first month and once a month thereafter.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR DETOX BATH: FOR ARTHRITIS OR GOUT
Apple cider vinegar detox bath is great for arthritis, gout and other inflammatory body ailments. This is a good bath to take if you feel you need to sweat out toxins, and also if you want to make sure that you get to sleep without lying awake with a wandering mind. You will continue to sweat for a few hours. This is just the your body getting rid of all the toxins it has collect over a long period of time. Again be sure to drink plenty of water before and after this bath.
When pouring your bath, add 1-2 cups of pure apple cider vinegar. Soak in the tub for up to 30 minutes.
If you have a heart condition or high blood pressure please consult a doctor before trying any of these baths.
WARNING: Detox baths will dehydrate you. I suggest you drink atleast 8 ounces of water before and 8 ounces of water after each bath. Hot water is recommended for all detox baths because hot water opens your pores which helps the detoxing process. Detox baths are very relaxing and can cause you to feel weak. Stand up slowly and carefully because you may feel a little light headed. In most cases you will feel tired so take the bath when you have a few hours to spare. Don’t take hot baths or salt baths if you are pregnant, have heart trouble, high blood pressure, or if you are diabetic. If you’re not sure, talk to your doctor first. While your body works to detox and flush out the toxins you may feel a bit under the weather for about half a day. Stay hydrated to help your body clear out the toxins and you should feel better pretty quickly.
If you find any of these detox baths helpful please be sure to comment below.
References:
For more recipes or benefits of detox baths please visit these sites
What is eating clean? You can not complete any fitness goal without first changing your eating habits. This has been proven to be the hardest challenge in getting fit for many people. In todays world where processed food and sugary treats are easily available and less expensive than our healthier alternatives, many people find it hard to break old habits. The great news is that it's not impossible to do and once it becomes habit it becomes easier to live a healthy lifestyle. You must remember that it is a LIFESTYLE, not a DIET! I'm going to share some tips to help you on this journey to a healthier LIFESTYLE.
DO'S and DONT's
DON'T: Eat three large meals per day. Eating large meals 5-6 hours apart will slow your metabolism down leaving you feeling tired and unmotivated. It will also cause you to snack on unhealthy treats to curve your hunger.
DO:Eat 5-6 Meals per day. This includes Breakfast, lunch, dinner and three snacks. Try to eat every 2-3 hours to keep your metabolism up. This will help you have more energy to workout. It will also prevent your body from going into starvation mode, which usually cause you to eat a larger serving during your next meal. The key is to not feel hungry.
DON'T: Be fooled by labels that say WHEAT! wheat does not equal whole wheat or whole grain and does not have the same nutritional value.
DO: Choose whole grains and complex carbohydrates to give you more energy. They will also make you feel fuller longer. Look for breads, pasta, and rice that are not just brown, but also made with 100% whole grain.
DON'T: Purchase processed foods. Processed foods contain starch, preservatives, sodium, sugar, artificial color and artificial flavors amongst other things that are not good for our bodies. Processed foods also contain cheap and unhealthy oils and most of the vitamins and minerals that fresh foods contain are lessened.
DO:Purchase fresh foods. Eating fresh foods (especially organic) will allow you to reap the full benefits of the vitamins and minerals they contain. Fresh foods also taste better. I recommend going to your local farmers market to ensure that you are getting the freshest fruits, veggies and fish.
DON'T: Eat snacks packed with refined sugar, unhealthy oils or fats. Eating these foods will surely pack on the pounds and have you on a sugar high that will come crashing down in about an hour. This will cause you to constantly crave for more sugar!
DO: Eat as many fruits and vegetables as you want. the natural sugar in fruit will eventually help curve your craving for those unhealthy snacks that are packed with refined sugar.
DON'T: drink sugary drinks such as sodas, concentrated juices, or even those vitamin waters that are also packed with a ton of sugar.
DO: Drink plenty of water, green tea and herbal teas. Use honey or raw sugar if you prefer your drink a little sweet.
DON'T:Eat fatty meats. Also do not eat a large amount of meat. Portion control is key. A serving is usually the size of your palm.
DO: Eat lean meat like skinless chicken breast that is full of protein and fresh wild salmon that is also high in protein, omega 3, amino acid minerals, vitamins A,D,B6 and B12
DON'T: Skip any meals, especially breakfast. Breakfast is the most and important meal of the day. Skipping meals, especially breakfast, can actually make controlling your weight more difficult. People who skip breakfast tend to eat more than usual at the next meal or nibble on high calorie snacks to ease their hunger pains.
Now that we've gotten some do's and don'ts out of the way let's get start with December fitness challenge. We all know that we will stuff our face on thanksgiving and the next three days after on grandma's cooking. Afterwards we will go through our guilty feelings and want to get back on track. So lets bring the new year in right with a healthy LIFESTYLE change:
EAT FRESH FOOD
NO PROCESSED FOOD
ELIMINATE REFINED SUGAR
EAT 5-6 SMALL MEALS A DAY
COMBINE PROTEINS WITH HEALTHY CARBS
CONTROL YOUR PORTIONS (A portion is usually the size of your fist)
