Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

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Blogpost: My Weight Woes
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Blogpost: My Weight Woes

I have to say I am a bit bummed out today. I stepped on the scale after two weeks of trying to eat better, exercise more and….I have lost no weight. Not a pound, not even a half pound. I should have measured areas such as my waist, hips, and thighs, before I started, but I haven’t noticed a difference there either. My pants don’t seem looser, and I really don’t think I’ve lost any inches.
So what’s the deal? I highly dislike eating healthy, my taste buds will just not learn to accept green vegetables, and I crave Doritos every other hour. But I tried my best, cutting way back on my chip intake, eating fruit for my snacks instead of candy bars and cheez-it’s, and having a strawberry and banana smoothie in the mornings instead of pop-tarts for breakfast. I enjoy working out, often visiting the gym three times a week, along with doing workouts at home to DVDs or workouts I rip out of Shape magazine. So why am I not seeing any results? What more do I need to do? If someone tells me I have to completely cut out Doritos, I think I will be heartbroken.
I won’t give up just quite yet. By incorporating more fruits into my diet and choosing whole grain when it comes to bread and even pasta noodles, I feel like I am being better to my body. I will keep up with my workouts even when the perky blonde trainer tells me to smile and I feel an overwhelming urge to throw my socks at her. Today, I will go out and buy that pesky measuring tape to take down my inches, then see in another two-three weeks how I did. More to come…

September 24, 2010
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My Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe
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My Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe

I recently posted an article on McDonald’s new fruit smoothies, and after checking out their nutritional information, decided that making my own would be the healthiest choice. So I got myself a blender, bought some fruit, and searched for a healthy recipe online. Putting in the words ‘strawberry banana smoothie’ got me pages and pages of link and ideas. And while I of course couldn’t read through them all, I got ideas and suggestions from many of the sites to put my own spin on my smoothie. Here is the recipe I came up with, and that I have been drinking faithfully for the past few days.
6 large strawberries
1 banana (any size)
1 cup low-fat yogurt (I used plain yogurt)
1 cup orange juice
1 tbsp sugar

I blended all the ingredients on low until they were well mixed, then added in two handfuls of ice and used the ice crush mode on my blender. This recipe made me four glasses, and taste yummy. I love the fact that I am using real fruits to make this, instead of a sugared up pureed blend as opposed to McDonalds. I have seen that people use different types of yogurt, strawberry was a popular one, so I might try out some of those in the future. Hope you enjoy!

July 27, 2010
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Skin Cancer Annual Checks
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Skin Cancer Annual Checks

I went to the dermatologist today to get my first full body check. I have frequented tanning beds in the past, and do occasionally go outside without slathering on the SPF, and read in my Shape magazine that annual derm checks are a smart idea. I had also found a spot under my right eyelid that was causing me concern. Again while reading Shape, I came across a story a young woman had wrote in about her experience with skin cancer. She had a found a spot on her eyelid that looked like a pimple, but couldn’t pop it and it never went away. Months later when she finally had it checked out, it ended up being skin cancer. The spot under my eyelid looks like a pimple but I can’t pop it, and has been there for about six months now. After reading that article, I called my dermatologist the very next to schedule my appointment.
The first thing my doctor did was check out that spot. Luckily, I had good news- no skin cancer. He said it was simply a small cyst that could come from a clogged pore. Popped it with a needle, and it was done. Relief. Next came the full body check. I wasn’t even really sure what this was, or what I was going to have to do, but it was really simple. The nurse gave me a gown that I put on, and the doctor checked out my whole body- my feet, scalp, armpits, etc. He asked if I had any moles or freckles that I had noticed that were changing, to which I answered no. I actually don’t have a whole lot of moles or freckles, probably only five that I can see on my body, so I really wasn’t too worried about the check. But, with the UV tanning I have done in the past, I would much rather be safe than sorry. The body check took less than three minutes and the doc gave me the all clear. Good for another year, unless I should notice any spots changing. It’s important for everyone to keep tabs on their skin, that way you can tell if a mole is changing in size or color. Thanks to Shape for consistently bringing up the topic of skin cancer and the importance of getting body checks!

July 24, 2010
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Sip or Skip: McDonalds Fruit Smoothies
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Sip or Skip: McDonalds Fruit Smoothies

I was pressed for time this morning, rushing to get off to a doctor’s appointment after letting myself sleep in for a few minutes, so I wasn’t able to make myself a nice blended drink at home like I had anticipated the night before. When I left my doctors office, the first place I saw was, of course, McDonalds. They are everywhere. I had recently seen their commercials for their new fruit smoothies, and I thought that would be perfect for breakfast. So I swung through and grabbed a small, 12 oz. cup for $2.79 of the strawberry/banana smoothie. My first impression on the taste: YUM! I thought it was delicious, so good in fact I had to immediately check out if this drink truly was healthy. My taste buds enjoy foods that are not good for me: junk food, fast food, etc. so I thought there could be no way I was actually drinking something healthy. Turns out, I was sort of right. The McDonalds fruit smoothies are not quite as healthy as the ones I can make for myself at home, mainly because of the sugar content. The smoothie consists of a banana/strawberry puree blend, low-fat yogurt, and ice. Both the fruit blend and yogurt contain sugar, 44 grams total. The total calories for the drink were 210, but you do get about 70% of your daily value of Vitamin C from the drink. So it may be better to stick with the real fruit smoothies I make home, with my fresh strawberries, banana, and yogurt, without all that added sugar to it. The McDonalds version could be a good choice on some occasions, but probably best to stick to my at home blend!

July 23, 2010
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Your Workout Cleanser
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Your Workout Cleanser

Should you use different cleansers after your workout? According to an article in the June edition of Fitness magazine, that answer is yes. After a workout, you will want to go beyond the surface and get deeper down in the pores, and Fitness highlights three of the top after-workout cleansers.
Neutrogena Deep Clean Sport Facial Cleanser. This claims to break up the clogged oil with salicylic acid, along with reducing redness with menthol.
Garnier Skin Renew The Brusher Gel-Cleanser. This is the cleanser I am most eager to try out. The rubber bristles wipe away dead cells, and vitam E is able to penetrate deep into the skin, giving it silky smooth touch.
L’Oreal Paris Go 360 Clean Deep Cream Cleanser. This scrub has 500 touch points that spread the suds over the skin, leaving the face feeling smooth and invigorated.

June 24, 2010
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Healthy Recipe: Shrimp Cesar Salad
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Healthy Recipe: Shrimp Cesar Salad

Over this past weekend, I stepped outside of my food comfort zone and tried… shrimp. And it was actually pretty decent. I am one picky eater, and have never been a fan of any sort of seafood, but I thought I’d give this just one try. The texture threw me off slightly, but overall I enjoyed it. I think to begin with I’d have to eat shrimp with something (my dish for example had rice in with the shrimp) and Fitnessmag.com have posted a yummy Shrimp Cesar Salad. I enjoy Cesar salad’s and by throwing some shrimp along with it, gives the salad an extra boost- and a healthy boost at that. Read below for the ingredients and directions:
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
4 slices whole-grain bread
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 pound raw shrimp, shelled and cleaned, tails removed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 tablespoons light mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
4 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
8 cups torn romaine lettuce
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
4 tablespoons shaved Parmesan

Directions
1. Preheat the broiler. Mist a shallow baking sheet with cooking spray. Brush the bread lightly on both sides with the canola oil; cut into 3/4-inch cubes. Place in a single layer on the sheet and broil until lightly browned, about 1 minute per side. Transfer croutons to a plate and let cool.
2. Toss the shrimp with salt and black pepper and place in a single layer on the same baking sheet. Broil 2 minutes per side or until just cooked through.
3. In a bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, mayonnaise, Worcestershire, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, and 2 tablespoons water.
4. Toss the lettuce, onion, and croutons in a bowl; drizzle dressing over the top and toss to combine. Spoon shrimp on top; garnish with shaved Parmesan.

Makes: 4 servings
Prep time: 7 minutes
Cook time: 6 minutes
Nutrition facts per serving: 327 calories, 32g protein, 26g carbohydrate, 12g fat (2.4g saturated), 5g fiber

Source: Marge Perry/Fitness Magazine

June 15, 2010
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Best and Worst Drinks for Your Health
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Best and Worst Drinks for Your Health

Shape.com posted a super informative article on the best and worst drinks for your health. I commend myself on drinking plenty of water throughout the day while at work, but when I go home I sip on kool-aide and soda. I did make the switch from kool-aide to lemonade, but then learned that lemonade was just as bad for you! So what’s the best and what’s the worst? Shape is clearing up any confusion on this matter…

THE WORST
Lemonade! Store bought lemonade can contain 100 calories per cup, and the equivalent of 6 teaspoons of sugar and zero nutrients.
THE BEST
Infused water. Good ole’ H20 is going to be the best choice, but there are ways to fancy up your plain water to make it more desirable. There are plenty of flavor-enhanced versions of water (Fuze, SmartWater, VitaminWater, etc.) but make sure you are reaching for ones that do not contain artificial sweeteners.
THE WORST COCKTAIL
Do you enjoy pina coladas? You might want to rethink those tasty treats. A 16-ounce pina colada contains 880 calories!
THE BEST BEER
Light beer will be the drink of choice. A 12 ounce bottle of light beer will only up you 100 calories and studies have shown the natural ingredients in light beer help deposit calcium and other minerals into bone. The alcohol in beer also provides protection against heart disease and stroke.
To read more about the best and worst drinks for your health from Shape, click here!
Source: Shape.com/Cynthia Sass

June 8, 2010
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Subway vs. Jimmy Johns
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Subway vs. Jimmy Johns

I am a big fan of both Subway and Jimmy Johns. At least once a week I will visit at least one, if not both chains for a lunch sandwich along with some chips and a soda. A few weeks ago, a co-worker and I were discussing (over a chicken breast sandwich topped with lettuce, cheese, and mayo from Subway) which franchise offers a healthier meal. Subway boasts slogans such as “Eat Fresh” and “Build a Better Breakfast” and allows customers to individualize each and every component of the sandwich. And Jimmy Johns also boasts their fresh ingredients, making their own bread on a daily basis and not using frozen ingredients. But, it is harder to customize the sandwiches at Jimmy Johns. So which is healthier? After a few weeks of research on the internet, I really couldn’t find anything conclusive. Each sandwich is good in some areas, others suffer. If an individual loads up on mayonnaise and cheese and only eats white bread or monetary cheddar- well that is definitely unhealthier than chicken breast plain on wheat bread. So even though I couldn’t draw anything concrete from my research, I did see that each website offers all nutritional values on their ingredients. I preferred Jimmy Johns site over Subway because you could literally make your meal, adding cheese and condiments, even your soda and chips, and get the total calorie count and other important values. I used the website to compare my favorite meals from each chain, and found that my Subway meal is slightly healthier over Jimmy Johns. My suggestion would be to check out the sites if you haven’t already, and see which is healthier, and what maybe you should cut out or substitute to have your best meal.

June 1, 2010
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Lowering Breast Cancer Risks
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Lowering Breast Cancer Risks

While there is no cure for breast cancer, I think it is important that women know and understand what they can do to lower their chances of getting the disease. After losing my grandmother last year to the cancer, I now pay even more attention to topics such as prevention and risk factors. Shape.com put out an article titled ‘Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk’ and it includes 4 healthy breast habits that all women should be aware of.
1. Maintain a healthy weight. Women who are overweight have a higher chance of being diagnosed with the cancer, in addition to being more at risk to recurrence and morality. Exercising on a regular basis will not only keep your weight in check, but can drop your risk up to 50% if you exercise vigorously for three to four hours a week.
2. Eat a balanced diet. Not only will eating healthy in general give you health benefits, but there are certain foods that can lower your risk of cancer by 20%. Those include foods rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene, such as carrots, spinach and sweet potatoes. Vitamin D and calcium are another strong source, found in fish, such as salmon, trout, sardines, milk, yogurt, cheese and vegetables like broccoli and kale.
3. Examine yourself. While an annual checkup may be unpleasant and dreaded, it is important for women to go. The doctor will perform a breast examination, looking for any abnormalities including lumps that could require further testing. But you cannot just count on that one time a year exam. Women should perform monthly self breast exams as well, generally the best time being the week after your period. This is the time frame where there is less estrogen stimulation, so breasts are not lumpy or tender.
4. Know your breasts. You’re the one that knows your breasts the best, so you will be able to tell if there is a change or any abnormalities that are occurring. Shape recommends going to a doctor if you find swollen lymph nodes, changes in nipples, or if skin turns a color.

Source: Shape.com

May 26, 2010
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