This is a nice, light summer dish that incorporates vegetables, whole grain, healthy fats, and protein. It is colorful, balanced, and delicious. Enjoy!
Cook ½ cup of quinoa in water with a dash of salt. Meanwhile, chop the veggies. You will need ¼ cup of cubed red bell peppers, ¼ cup of cubed yellow summer squash (you can use zucchini, if you’d prefer), and ¼ cup of edamame beans[1]. Sauté the vegetables in one tablespoon of olive oil. Set it aside.
Do you want an exercise that works every single part of your body and help you burn fat while sculpting lean muscles? This is the one. This mini-drill engages your core muscles, legs and upper body, all in one fluid movement. Besides, this demanding exercise will fire up your metabolism, making you burn fat more efficiently. Talk about an outstanding exercise!
You’ve probably heard the term “mindless eating” before. Mindless eating refers to the unconscious consumption of foods and beverages which usually leads to overeating. Several studies have shown that most of us frequently engage in some level of mindless eating. Yet, according to Brian Wansink, author of the book “Mindless Eating,” the answer for mindless eating doesn’t rest on controlling everything you put in your mouth. Of course, mindfulness is a good habit to nurture, but let’s face the fact that it is just too hard to maintain awareness at every single moment of our life. Imagine the monstrous amount of energy you’d have to put into your daily choices to practice mindfulness. Thus, instead of trying to be part of the “food police,” you could simply tweak the environment around you in order to favor better food choices.
Let’s face it. Not many people are thrilled about exercising regularly, working out hard, or even getting out of their comfort zone (probably the couch). According to the current obesity statistics, not many people seem to be willing to participate in any form of exercise, period. (Maybe their couch is pretty comfortable.)
Are you ready to show some skin this summer? We are well aware that the cold, dry winter weather can take a toll on our skin, leaving it dehydrated, dull and flaky. Besides, as we age, our skin layers suffer several unwelcoming alterations.
I know you must be thinking “what does happiness have to do with fitness and health?” According to the World Health Organization, health is defined as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease.” Thus, our overall health depends on how we feel on a daily basis. Unfortunately, our hectic lifestyles can sometimes get in the way of our well-being.
They seem to be everywhere – from the grocery store aisle to “call now” infomercials. Nowadays, there are so many different products on the market that one can easily get confused. You may find them as tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids, bars, and powders. Most of them promise you the world: fast weight-loss, more energy, improved athletic performance, and protection against an array of diseases, just to name a few. But what exactly are dietary supplements?
The answer is definitely yes. Just because you may appear to be within your normal weight range, it doesn’t mean that you are in your best shape. Curiously, most people who were born thin believe that they won the “genetic lottery.” This means that they can eat whatever they want and slouch on the couch for hours, and still get away with it. Well, if that’s your case, I have bad news for you. First of all, thinness doesn’t guarantee good health or greater longevity. In addition, recent research has pointed out that many thin individuals may have a high percentage of body fat. These individuals are considered metabolically obese despite their normal weight. I must remind you that carrying excessive body fat has been associated with heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, gall bladder disease, and cirrhosis of the liver, among others. Unfortunately, it seems that “normal weight obesity” is more common among women.
Many people say that they don’t exercise because they don’t have enough time. If that’s your case, I have great news for you: exercise sessions seem to be shrinking. The traditional method of cardiovascular training (comprised of long periods of continuous, moderate-intensity exercise) is losing ground for a more time-efficient type of workout – the High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). HIIT is a cyclic workout that alternates bouts of higher-intensity exercise with lower-effort recovery intervals. This is a protocol commonly used to boost the performance of competitive athletes, but recent research shows that it can also improve the health of recreational exercisers. In addition, HIIT can provide the same benefits as continuous aerobic training with fewer sessions.
Sorry to disappoint you, but the answer is a big, fat NO! It is a fact that most women would love to find a quick and easy way to shed a few pounds. However, there is no such thing as the magic pill, at least not yet. I’m well aware that there are hundreds of products out there promising fast weight-loss. It is an impressive selection that goes from pills to shakes to shots. Their advertisements are everywhere, targeting women who are unhappy with their appearance, yet not confident that they can change it alone.