Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

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Why Are We So Fat?
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Why Are We So Fat?

A headline from Yahoo! Heath caught my attention: “Why are American’s so fat?” Well, why are we? According to this article, written by David Zinczenko, it’s because we are consuming far more calories than we need. And I agree with that. Each time I open my Shape or Women’s Health magazine, I am learning about consuming too many calories and how to cut them down. I even started using a calorie counting website to help me figure out what exactly I was putting in my body.
According Zinczenko’s research, the food we eat is often filled with extra calories, especially in mass produced foods. Sure, that can help make the food taste better, but it’s only bad news for your pant size- and your health. Zinczenko helps uncover which foods contain more calories than necessary, and where to find healthier options of the same food.
One example is a new favorite food of mine. I recently tried guacamole and fell in love at first bite. I thought the guac was healthy for me (it comes from avocados after all) but that’s not always the case. The truth about premade guacamole dip is that it often times lacks a punch of real avocados. When you see the word “dip” after guacamole, you can assume that is contains less than 2 percent avocado, and is instead filled with chemicals and fillers. So where can you find real guacamole dip? Zinczenko suggests Wholly Guacamole to buy in stores, or making it yourself. Avocados are filled with fiber and mono-saturated fats (good for your heart) and can be easily made from home. Scoop out the flesh of two avocados, combine with two cloves of minced garlic, a bit of minced onion, the juice of one lemon, chopped cilantro, one medium chopped tomato, and a pinch of salt.
Be sure to check out the full article filled with more foods that could be upping your calorie intake!
Source: David Zinczenko, Yahoo! Heatth

January 17, 2011
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Household Hazards: Candles
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Household Hazards: Candles

Recently, I have developed an obsession with candles. I have a candle on the stove, on the kitchen table, on the countertops, and in the bedroom. I love lighting one each night and smelling the cinnamon or lavender or whatever scent I have chosen, spread through the house. But after reading an article in October’s edition of Women’s Health magazine, I might need to consider pulling back on my candle lighting.
Women’s Health published an article titled ‘Beat Bad Air Days’ and it featured common household items that can pollute the air inside your house. Candles were number one on the list. Turns out, “paraffin candles emit chemicals that are linked to liver damage, neurological problems, and leukemia (page 76). Say what? Even more- the black soot that is released each time you light that wick, could be damaging your lungs and heart tissue.
So do I throw all my candles away and go for the plastic candles with LED lights to achieve that cozy ambiance? That was one suggestion from Women’s Health, but another was buying soy candles. Soy candles burn at a slower rate and emit less soot than the regular paraffin counterparts. I now have soy candles on my shopping list, and you may want to consider going the healthy-air route too!
Information from: Women’s Health Magazine, October 2010 Edition, by Katherine Bowers/page 76.

December 22, 2010
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Indulging vs. OVERindulging
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Indulging vs. OVERindulging

Indulging. Over indulging. What is the difference between the two? I know that I have been lucky to never really struggle with my weight, I have good genes and the motivation to work out to thank for that, but I am trying to be more aware of my diet now that I am getting older. My metabolism is bound to be slowed one of these days, so I try to be conscious of what I eat. I hate hearing celebrities and models say they never eat chocolate. Fried foods. A bag of Skittles. I mean seriously, where is the fun if all you ever eat is grilled chicken and lettuce and wash it down with some green smoothie? Over half of my social outings consist of meeting in a restaurant, trying out new desserts or the loaded nachos. Is there really no other way to achieve a tight bod unless we throw all the foods we love out the window?
I wasn’t buying it. Not only do my taste buds clash tremendously with healthy foods, I have a sweet tooth, plain and simple. Mix that in with the fact that I can’t cook, and eating out becomes a staple in my life. So could I really get myself to eat better with all these obstacles in my way?
I have posted before on how I switched up my diet recently, drinking fruit smoothies for breakfast and replacing Kit-Kats with yogurt. But I found that the more I forced myself not to eat the things I love, the more I desperately craved for them. I needed to find a balance, a way that I could enjoy the best of both worlds with starving myself, or finding myself bingeing on unhealthy foods because I missed them so much.
The answer came one day when a co-worker brought it donuts for breakfast. I flew to the conference center and grabbed the biggest sprinkle donut, preparing to demolish the thing in five minutes. I took my first and closed my eyes with happiness, a donut over my strawberry-banana smoothie tasted a thousand times better. I took another bite, glaring at the bottle on my desk filled with my smoothie. It glared back. A third bite, and I stopped. What if I only ate half the donut, then drank my smoothie? I would still be able to indulge my sweet tooth, but not over indulge on a sugary breakfast.
And viola, the solution to quit over indulging stared me in the face. It’s okay to continue eating the things I wanted to eat, as long as I wasn’t going overboard. All things are good moderation, and I believe this includes sweets. Instead of banning myself from that bag of Skittles, I will eat a handful, then put the bag back in my desk. When hunger strikes again, I will get out my yogurt, instead of reaching for more Skittles. It’s not easy all the time, nothing really ever is, but I feel that with consciously being aware over indulging, the less likely I am to do it. So next time you reach for that piece of cake, ask yourself: are you indulging, or over-indulging?

November 9, 2010
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Straighten Up: Effects of Poor Posture
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Straighten Up: Effects of Poor Posture

Good posture. I will admit, this is not something I often think about. I found myself slouching in my chair, hunched over my computer multiple times a day. But improving your posture can have positive long term effects on your health, and it is important that people are aware of what poor posture can do to your body.
I wad doing yoga a few days ago, which is a great exercise for posture. I can feel my spine lengthening, my neck long, and my back straight. Once I complete a yoga workout, I find myself more focused on the way I am sitting and standing. I sit up taller at the table, I throw my shoulders back while walking, I feel good about myself. But then a few days later I’m back to my hunchback ways. So how can we improve our posture?
If you weren’t already aware, poor posture can do a lot more than make you look like an undignified Miley Cyrus at the Oscars. According to an article on Shape.com, it can also cause continual neck and back pain, frequent migraines, arthritic symptoms, and fatigue. Shape recommends checking your self out in a mirror. You should be able to draw an imaginary straight line from your earlobe to your hip to your knee and the center of your ankle. If you are sitting, put your feet flat on the floor, push your butt back to the end of the chair so your back is completely supported and your weight’s equally distributed on both hips, then push your shoulders back to take the strain off of your neck muscles.
Being aware of your posture will not only make you look better, but also feel better. I recommend practicing yoga, which forces you to sit straight and focus on your posture. Try thinking of these tips when you are sitting at the table or at your desk. The pain that you won’t feel from being hunched will just be another reward. And be sure to check out Shape.com for other posture improving tips.

March 16, 2010
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Heart Healthy Tips
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Heart Healthy Tips

Women’s Health Magazine has a great article on tips for a healthier heart. At my work (a hospital) we recently celebrated ‘Wear Red for Women’s Health’ this past Friday, so I thought this article would be good to print out and hang up in my office, and share with all of you! Here are the five tips you can do to avoid heart problems:
1. Eat More Plants and Fish. Colorful foods (think berries and spinach) are filled with heart healthy antioxidants that can reduce the risk of heart disease. The antioxidants work to keep plaque from building up on the arteries, keeping the vessels clear and healthy. Fruits and vegetables also give the body plenty of potassium, helping to regulate the blood pressure. Fatty fish such as salmon or sardines is a great way to get the omega-3 fatty acids, which also reduce the risk of heart disease by decreasing your blood pressure and triglycerides.
2. Cut the Fat. Butter, meat, and whole dairy products often contain high levels of saturated fats, which is bad for the heart. You want to keep your saturated fat level to about 7 percent of your daily calories and try to eliminate trans fats from your diet. Trans fats can do a double whammy- increasing the level of bad cholesterol and lowering the level of good cholesterol. WHM recommends keeping trans fats in your diet down to 1 percent of your daily calories- and the common foods that these are found in is margarine, oils, fried foods, and pastries.
3. Know Your Risk. We all know that prevention is key, and this relates to all aspects of your health. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor to run some tests on you to check out your levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, and other tests that could reveal potential health problems. Be especially aware if there is history of health problems in your family, such as diabetes or heart attacks.
4. Move Your Feet. Working out and utilizing cardio routines is a great way to protect your heart. Even just walking 30 minutes a day can improve heart strength and lower bad cholesterol levels.
5. Stop Smoking. We are all aware that smoking can introduce many health problems in the system, so it’s time to quit! WHM reports that smokers are up to four times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who don’t smoke. Tobacco can narrow arteries, raise blood pressure, and thicken blood- all which can lead to clogged arteries and heart attacks. And- it reeks!
All these tips can be life-savers, so be sure to start implementing them into your daily routine. Be sure to check out Women’s Health Magazine online for the full article and other great heart healthy ideas!

February 9, 2010
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