Tag Archives: guest blogger

BREAKFAST (contributor Sara Upton)

written by Contributor Sara Upton…

Eating a healthy breakfast does a number of positive things for you physically. For instance, it gives your body the perfect dose of energy that it needs to make it through your busy morning. It has also been linked to enhanced weight control. Up to 90 percent of people who have been able to maintain weight loss for more than year indicating that they eat this important meal at least five of the seven days per week. 

However, the key to making breakfasts work for you is to choose food options that supply a decent amount of nutrients while tasting amazing. What are some to consider?
Tasty Yet Healthy Breakfast Options
If you have a little bit of time on your hands, a breakfast burrito is a great way to get some nutritious foods in your system and satisfy your hunger at the same time. Don’t be afraid to load it up with veggies either. Peppers, avocado, tomatoes, and any others you want to add will boost the flavor while keeping it healthy. 

Another option, and one that is slightly more filling, is whole-wheat apple pancakes. By adding wheat flour, you’re consuming healthier carbs. The apples are good for you too as they are loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants and fiber, which is good for your digestive tract, lowers your risk of type 2 diabetes, and even has the potential of reducing your cholesterol levels.

If you don’t have a lot of time to make a meal, a nutrient-packed breakfast to consider is a simple green smoothie. Some ingredients that are great in green smoothies include kale, spinach, and parsley. Of course, you can always add other non-green foods as well, such as different fruits, flax seed, and other nutritious ingredients that you’ve grown to love.

Juicing is yet another alternative and one that a lot of people find enables them to start their day with a lot of energy without giving them a full stomach that can weigh them down. How is juicing different than smoothies? The main difference between the two is that juicing removes a large amount of the fiber. 

It’s still good for you, though, as many people have experienced improved health via juicing. Jil Larsen is one of them. She was able to reverse her skin disorder after just six months of eating healthier foods and juicing.

And here is one more idea for a quick and healthy breakfast for those crazy busy mornings…

Healthy Breakfast Tips
If you typically struggle with eating a healthy breakfast, here are some tips that can help:

  • Buy nutritious breakfast foods that you not only enjoy eating, but that you also don’t mind making, so you aren’t tempted to walk out the door without them.
  • Have a number of healthy food options on hand so you don’t get bored eating the same breakfasts over and over again.
  • Keep your fridge and pantry stocked so you can’t skip breakfast due to the excuse that there’s nothing to eat.

Click HERE for more details about the NOVEMBER BINGO CHALLENGE and sign up HERE!

Come join the fun!!

 

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Thank you Sara for encouraging us in these healthy ways!

Follow Sara now on Twitter —»  here «— for more on healthy lifestyles!!

POSTPARTUM EXERCISE

Guest Post:  David Smith
Having a baby can be a very exciting time, but the toll it takes on your body is not likely something many women embrace. The body’s process of preparing to give birth (not to mention the actual birthing process itself) can make even the fittest woman feel like she took a giant step backwards in terms of fitness.
 
How can a new mom get back into her fitness groove? 
When is it okay to start exercising?
Which exercises should a new mom choose?
 
Those are the questions we answer in this Guide to Postpartum Exercise. This step-by-step plan will help new moms ease back into exercise and then work their way towards your pre-pregnancy shape. The chosen exercises are safe and especially effective for developing core strength (which is crucial for any mom, especially those who had a cesarian section or difficult time giving birth). 

Be sure to listen to your body and to have patience as you progress through each of these 6-weeks stages. Enjoy!
 
 
 Dave Smith has been a personal trainer since 2001 and was recently named “Top Fitness Professional in Canada”. Dave offers free online fitness training at Make Your Body Work and also spends much of his time helping other personal trainers improve their training techniques and business success. Check out his free resources, videos, and fitness programs at makeyourbodywork.com.